University security employee denies attempted rape charge

KOTA KINABALU: A 26-yearold man, employed in the security division of a university here, has claimed trial to a charge of attempted rape during a hearing at the Sessions Court here yesterday.

The accused, Arshad Masdin, who appeared before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed, denied the charge under Section 376(2)(a) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code.

Under the charge, he may be liable to a jail term of up to 15 years and also whipping, upon conviction.

Arshad was accused of attempting to rape an 18-year-old girl by forcibly attempting to take off her clothes in the room of a university here at 12.30 am on July 15.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Umar Faiz objected to granting bail as the offence was non-bailable, while the accused, represented by counsel Shahlan Jufri, pleaded for bail on the grounds that he has to support two small children and have been working at the security department of the university for almost a year.

Counsel Shahlan also said that his client has no previous criminal record and that there will be no issue of tampering the victim as she is currently in Kelantan.

The court fixed November 12 and 13 this year for trial and released the accused on a bail of RM5,000 in a local surety, pending disposal of the case.