Remand order extended for rape suspects

MIRI: A magistrates’ court here yesterday extended by four days the remand order on two men arrested on suspicion of raping a female student.

Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa issued the order after allowing a remand extension application by investigating officer Insp Clarissa Carol from the Miri Central police station.

In her application, Clarissa said both suspects, aged 48 and 34, from Sungai Teniku, Miri-Marudi road and Mile 114 Bintulu- Miri road respectively, had initially been remanded for five days until yesterday under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

As the investigation is still ongoing and could not be completed within the initial remand period, she applied for an extension of seven days.

However, Zuraini only allowed an extension of four days for both suspects, which will end on Monday (April 8).

On March 27, the 17-year- old victim made a police report at the Miri Central Police Station claiming she was sleeping in the living room of her house around noon on March 5 when a man suddenly came in and raped her.

After the incident, the victim, who was feeling unwell fell asleep again, and claimed a second man came in and also raped her.

She also claimed both men often propositioned her for sex and also touched her inappropriately.

Acting on information received, police arrested the fi rst suspect at a longhouse at Miri-Bintulu road around 11.40am on March 29, while the second suspect was arrested around 12.15pm on the same day at a plantation in Lambir.

Following the arrest, both suspects were brought to the Miri Central Police Station for further investigation under Section 376 of the Penal Code.