Ex-coach from China to face trial over rape of diver

KUALA LUMPUR: Former national diving squad coach Huang Qiang (pic) has been ordered to enter his defence over a rape charge involving a diver last year.

High Court judge Azman Abdullah decided this after ruling that the Sessions

Court judge had erred when she acquitted

Huang without calling for his defence at the end of the prosecution’s case.

“The accused is to enter his defence on the charge made against him,” he ruled yesterday.

The court ordered the case to go back on trial at the Sessions Court.

Deputy public prosecutor Aznika Mohd Anas appeared for the prosecution while the 36-year-old accused was represented by Mohd Hisham Md Nen.

Later at a Sessions Court, judge Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid allowed Huang bail at RM20,000 in two sureties.

The court also ordered the accused to surrender his passport and fixed Nov 21 and Nov 22 for the trial.

In April, the Sessions Court released Huang, who is from China.

Following Huang’s acquittal, the prosecution appealed against the decision.

On Sept 26 last year, Huang was charged with raping the national diver, then aged 20, at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil at 5.30pm.

He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.