Restaurant manager in rape-marry case guilty, sentencing on Monday

KOTA KINABALU - The Sessions Court today found a restaurant manager guilty of raping an underage girl whom he claimed to have married later.

Judge Ummu Khaltom Abd Samad set Monday for the sentencing of Riduan Masmud, pending written submissions from the prosecution and defence.

Riduan, 40, had pleaded not guilty to raping a 12-year-old schoolgirl between 9am and 10am on Feb 18 last year by the roadside near the Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam. He faces a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping.

On May 20 last year, Riduan told the court that he had married the girl.

Nevertheless, on June 6, the Attorney-General's Chambers said it would go ahead and prosecute Riduan for the offence.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin while Riduan was represented by counsel Y.S. Lo and Timothy Daut.

Counsel Mary Lee held a watching brief for Kumpulan Daya Tindakan Wanita Sabah (SAWO), Women's Centre for Change, Penang; Sisters in Islam and Mama Anne of Bukit Harapan, and counsel Mary Florence Gomez, for Persatuan Undang-undang Sabah and Suara Kanak-kanak Malaysia. – Bernama