Man denies raping Filipina

KOTA KINABALU: A local man claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to raping a 24-year-old Filipina.

Bhagawan Wicaksana Widji Utomo Radjikin, 22, who was brought before judge Noorhafizah Mohd Salim, was charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and also liable to whipping, upon conviction.

He was alleged to have raped the woman at a house in Taman Wijaya, Manggatal at 11am on February 10.

The court fixed March 30 this year for pre-trial case management and released Bhagawan on RM7,000 bail with two local sureties, pending disposal of the case.

He was also ordered by the court to report himself at the Manggatal police station fortnightly while his passport was to be kept by the prosecution and not to communicate with any of the prosecution witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutor Dinesh Raja appeared for the prosecution.

In another court, 15 foreigners, including two women, were each jailed between four and five months for entering Sabah without valid travel documents.

Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz imposed the sentence on the foreigners after they pleaded guilty to each of their charges under Section 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

All of the foreigners, aged between 20 and 58, were apprehended during separate operations in Penampang, Papar and here after they had failed to produce their travel documents.

The court also ordered all of the foreigners to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentences.