Restaurant worker pleads guilty to raping underage girlfriend

MUAR: A restaurant worker pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here to charges of raping his underage girlfriend, resulting in her giving birth at a house in Batu Pahat last year.

The accused, Ong Cheng Jun, 19, made the plea after the charges under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code were read before judge Irwan Suainbon.

Under the charge, he is liable to a jail term not exceeding 20 years and caning.

According to the charge sheet, Ong was accused of raping his 15year-old girlfriend at his home in Batu Pahat about 5pm in January last year.

Based on police reports, the incident was discovered by a teacher after noticing physical changes in the victim.

The teacher informed the victim’s parents, who refused to believe it and assumed their child had stomach problems.

On Aug 21 last year, the victim was taken to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat for examination, and the doctor confirmed that she was 23 weeks pregnant at the time.

Following that, the victim’s family lodged a report at the Batu Pahat police headquarters.

Acting on the information, police apprehended the accused in Jalan Tanjung Laboh, Batu Pahat, at 3pm on Sept 25 last year.

The victim was reported to have dropped out of school and gave birth in October last year.

Deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.

Earlier, the prosecution urged the court not to offer bail to the accused due to the severity of the offence.

After considering the arguments and appeals of the accused, the court granted RM8,000 bail with one surety.

The court set April 23 for the remention of the case.