Three handball athletes of the 2013 Malaysia Games (Sukma) were charged separately in three Sessions Courts with the rape of a chaperone last Thursday.
Adib Adha Ismail, 18, Megat Farzeril Faiz Megat Razali, 19, and Mohammad Shaizzad Md Shafie, 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping the 20-year-old woman in a room at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Serdang between 4 am and 4.10 am on July 4.
They face a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The three courts allowed the athletes to be released on RM10,000 bail each in one surety. Adib Adha and Mohammad Shaizzad, however, are required to report to a police station once a month.
The courts set Aug 20 for mention of the cases.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Gin Jian did not propose bail, saying that these were high-profile cases and it was feared that the accused would interfere with the witnesses who were fellow athletes.
He also applied for the three cases to be heard jointly.
The courts allowed the application and ordered that the trial be conducted before Judge Abu Bakar Manat. The two other judges were Yasmin Abdul Razak and Rozina Ayob.
Counsel Stephanie Wong applied for bail of RM5,000 for her client, Adib Adha, and said she was prepared to have her client report to a police station regularly and would ensure that he did not interfere with the witnesses and the police investigation.
Counsel Datuk Suraj Singh sought bail for his clients, Megat Farzeril and Mohammad Shaizzad, and said they would not interfere with the witnesses.
Suraj Singh said Megat Farzeril helped his mother in her business and earned RM800 a month and had to take care of four siblings while Mohammad Shaizzad was studying at a local college.
Counsel Ranjit Singh, who held a watching brief for the chaperone, applied to the court for an order to prohibit the media from identifying the chaperone.
Suraj Singh, in supporting the application by Ranjit Singh, said: "The media should be warned not to arrive at any conclusion in the case until after the court has given its judgement."
The court allowed the application.
Before the proceedings began, the three accused were seen weeping and embracing family members present in court.
Bernama
Thu Jul 11 2013
Rusia, Malaysia jalin kerjasama dalam pelancongan mesra Muslim
Rusia dan Malaysia sedia utingkatkan pelancongan mesra Muslim menerusi kerjasama baharu antara badan pensijilan halal Rusia, Roskachestvo dan Pusat Pelancongan Islam Malaysia.
IShowSpeed tiba di KL, terima baju batik daripada peminat
Speed menerima hadiah daripada beberapa orang peminat Malaysia ketika kenderaannya berhenti di lampu isyarat di ibu negara pada Selasa,
Penyanyi Sean Diddy ditangakp di New York
Penerbit muzik terkenal, Puff Daddy atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sean Diddy Combs yang berdepan dengan beberapa tuduhan serangan seksual telah diberkas di Manhatann, New York oleh ejen persekutuan pada Isnin waktu tempatan.
10 maut, puluhan cedera bas Iran terbalik
Menurut angka awal, kemalangan itu mengakibatkan 10 maut dan 41 cedera.
Malaysia perlu melabur dalam infrastruktur
Pengarah Eksekutif Ukrainian Prism, Hennadiy Maksak berpandangan, Malaysia juga tidak boleh bergantung kepada satu laluan, selain menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan negara-negara jiran.
Lebih 1,000 rakyat termasuk pejuang Hezbollah cedera parah
Lebih seribu rakyat Lubnan termasuk anggota pejuang Hezbollah dan petugas perubatan cedera parah dalam satu letupan pada Selasa.
Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional memudahkan operasi perdagangan antara Malaysia dan China
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz berpendapat inisiatif Tetingkap Tunggal Nasional (National single window) yang bakal diharmonikan Bersama system kastam China akan memudahkan operasi perniagaan dan perdagangan (ease of doing business) antara Malaysia dan China.
Medan selera perlu ditambah baik, kemudahan asas tidak lengkap
Air bergenang di lantai dan tempias sehingga meja makan mengakibatkan pengunjung basah. Itu situasi apabila keadaan hujan lebat di Medan Selera Taman Makmur di dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang menempatkan deretan 12 kedai makan.
Calon manfaat platform media sosial dekati pengundi luar
Kempen Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota turut memberi tumpuan kepada penggunaan media sosial bagi menambat hati pengundi luar selain kempen secara bersemuka.
Seorang wanita maut jatuh lubang saluran air
Seorang wanita maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam lubang saluran air sedalam dua meter ketika menyertai aktiviti mendaki di Bukit Cherok Tok Kun pada Selasa.