Welder charged with raping teen and impersonating cop

GEORGE TOWN: A welder claimed trial to charges of raping an underage girl, impersonating a policeman and having a dangerous weapon.

M. Retnam (pic), 33, from Klang, Selangor, denied raping the 15-yearold girl in Pondok Upeh, Balik Pulau, between 2.30pm and 3.20pm on March 1.

The offence under Section 376 of the Penal Code carries a jail sentence of between five and 20 years and caning.

Sessions judge Sitarun Nisa Abdul Aziz allowed Retnam, who was unrepresented, bailofrm20,000 in one surety and fixed July 16 to mention the case.

Retnam was then brought to the magistrate’s court to be charged with impersonating a policeman.

He was alleged to have shown a card to an Indonesian woman and asked her for her passport inside a lift at the Mutiara Apartment in Jalan Sungai Emas, Batu Ferringhi, at 10.30pm on March 1.

He denied committing the offence under Section 170 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both upon conviction.

In the same court, Retnam also denied having a 27cm-long knife at the same place at about 10.40pm that day.

The offence under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, carries a maximum jail term of two years or whipping.

Retnam was allowed bail of RM4,000 in one surety for both offences and the magistrate court fixed both cases to be mentioned on April 17 for Retnam to engage a counsel.