An 82-year-old prominent Datuk and member of Sarawak state’s oil and gas elite stands accused in court of raping a 12-year-old girl — twice. He has pleaded not guilty.
Ibrahim Ahmad Darvesh Mohd Deen, known as Ibrahim Din (no, not the famous actor who died in 1996), listened today as Sessions Court judge Steve Ritikos read out his offenses.
The first charge accuses him of raping the young girl at a budget hotel in Taman Jade Manis on August 31 at 12:40am. It carries a maximum 20-year jail term, and whipping, if convicted.
The second sees him again accused of raping the 12-year-old at another budget hotel on Jalan Masjid on September 11 at 8pm. The second conviction carries its own 20-year jail term if he is found guilty. Yes, that also includes a whipping.
They are his first recorded offenses.
Those present reported that Ibrahim Din appeared calm as the horrifying accusations were read out.
The judge declared that the trial take place this coming March 5-9, and released the accused on RM15,000 (US$3,500) bail.
Considering the average male life expectancy in our country is 72 years old, and the trial is six months away, we’re fighting a statistical probability that neither he nor the victims may ever see justice on this one.
