A POLICE inspector was charged in the Sessions Court in Sungai Petani today with raping a 16-year-old girl in a police station last month.

Mohd Maliki Azmi, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read out before Judge Roslan Hamid.

As the investigating officer of a case, Maliki was accused of raping the girl with her consent – when the consent was obtained by using his position of authority over her – in the IO’s room at Yan police headquarters, Kedah, at 6.30pm on December 28, 2022.

He was charged under section 376(2)(f) of the penal code, which provides for a prison term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

Earlier, the accused also denied three charges of sexually assaulting the girl during the alleged attack.

These charges were framed under section 14(a), section 14(c) and section 15(a)(ii) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with section 16(1) of the same act.

Maliki faces up to 20 years imprisonment and whipping, if convicted of these offences.

The prosecution urged the court to set bail at RM20,000 for the rape charge and RM20,000 for each sexual assault charge.

Maliki pleaded for a lower bail, telling the court that he had lost his income due to this case, adding that he had to support his wife and parents, and incurred huge debts.

The court granted the accused a RM10,000 bail with one surety for the rape charge and RM15,000 with one surety for all three charges of sexual assault.

He was also ordered to hand over his passport to the court and prohibited from approaching the girl.

The court also fixed February 6 for a defence lawyer to be appointed and submission of documents. – Bernama, January 5, 2023.