Oct 18 for further mention of two sexual assault cases

MIRI: The Sessions Court here has set this Oct 18 for further mention of two separate cases involving two senior citizens, one of whom is an Indonesian – both accused of committing sexual assaults on an eight-year- old girl.

Both accused are being detained at Miri Central Prison while awaiting the new date, set by Judge Steve Ritikos after al lowing an application by Deputy Public Prosecutor Aftal Mariz for a new date for further mention of the cases, pending the completion of the victim’s medical report.

At the same time, Judge Steve also ordered the trial dates – initially set on Nov 1214 and Dec 5-7 – be maintained and not rescheduled.

In the f irst case Basri Ali, 62, from East Sulawesi, Indonesia was charged with two counts of rape.

These acts were allegedly committed on the girl inside an unnumbered house at Kampung Muhibbah, Ladang 3 in Batu Niah between January and May this year. The two charges are framed under Section 376 ( 2) (c) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term between 10 and 30 years, and whipping for each charge – upon conviction.

In the second case, Halim Kamal, 57, from Kampung Muhibbah, Ladang 3 was accused of committing sex against the order of nature by inserting his finger into the private parts of the same girl.

The offence was committed last year inside an unnumbered house at Kampung Muhibbah Ladang 3.

This charge i s framed under Section 377CA of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term between five and 30 years, and whipping, upon conviction.

Halim is also facing three others charges under Section 376 ( 2) ( c) of the Penal Code for raping.

In the first charge, he was accused of raping the girl last year inside an unnumbered house in Kampung Muhibbah Ladang 3.

In the second and third charges, he was accused of raping the same girl, between January and May this year – inside a storeroom and an unnumberedhouse,atKampung Muhibbah Ladang 3.