On Tuesday (6 Oct), a 71-year-old eatery worker was charged at the Sessions Court in Penang with raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
The incident allegedly occurred on 1 Oct inside the toilet of a shopping mall in George Town. The victim is the accused’s employer’s 18-year-old daughter.
Chuah Cheng Seng, the accused, pleaded not guilty and requested a trial after his charges were read.
His first charge was for allegedly raping a teen inside the second-floor male toilet of a shopping mall at 4.30pm on 1 Oct.
Source: doidam10 on Canva for illustration purposes only
This charge, framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, carries a punishment of up to 20 years’ jail and caning.
The second charge, brought under Section 377C of the Penal Code, is for allegedly committing sexual intercourse against the order of nature.
If found guilty of this charge, the accused will face between five and 20 years’ imprisonment and caning.
The prosecution initially offered Chuah bail of RM10,000 (about S$3,100) for each charge.
They also set conditions banning him from contacting prosecution witnesses and the victim, and ordering him to surrender his passport to the court until the case is resolved.
Source: Kosmo
However, the defence requested the court to reduce the bail, citing Chuah’s age, unemployment and diabetes.
Following this, the court lowered the bail to RM14,000 (about S$4,400) for both charges with one surety.
The judge also ordered Chuah to appear at the nearest police station on the first day of every month until the case is resolved.
The court also scheduled case mention and document submission for 16 Nov.
According to New Straits Times, Chuah took the victim for a walk at a shopping mall on 1 Oct.
He then allegedly dragged her inside the second-floor male toilet, where he committed the rape. He purportedly did this until another mall visitor knocked on the toilet door.
Following this, Chuah allegedly gave the victim cash before sending her to her father’s shop nearby.
The victim then told her family about the incident, prompting them to lodge a police report that led to Chuah’s arrest.
He was subsequently remanded for seven days.
Also read: Chef sexually assaults 11-year-old girl in S’pore restaurant, faces over 8 years’ jail
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Featured image adapted from New Straits Times, doidam10 on Canva for illustration purposes only.