Four men, including two juveniles, have been charged in Kota Baru’s Sessions and Magistrate Courts yesterday for the alleged gang rape of two girls, aged 15 and 17, in Kelantan last month – a far lower number than the reported 38 men who participated in the crime.
The adult defendants, charged in the Sessions Court, pleaded not guilty to their charges.
Che Azuan Che Hassan, 32, and Muhmed Azroel Hassan, 23, were charged with raping both victims at Kampung Hutan Pasir on May 20, between 7.30pm and 11.30pm.
The two were charged under Section 376 (2)(c) of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years in jail, and whipping if found guilty.
The two juveline defendants, afged 15 and 17 years old, were charged in the Magistrate Court under the same Section, but under the purview of the Child Protection Act.
The 17-year old pleaded guilty of the charge levelled against him, while the 15-year old pleaded not guilty.
Once their pleas were recorded, Magistrate Nk habri Muhammad ordered their cases to be transferred to the Sessions Court for sentencing and remention. He also allowed both juveniles to be released on RM3,000 bail and one surety, according to The Star Online‘s Syed Azhar.
The question remains now: what of the other alleged rapists who participated in the crime? Of the 38 men allegedly involved, 14 were detained for questioning, including a father and his two sons. Now the case has whittled down to four men being charged.
Will the other 34 gang rapists be arrested and brought into a court of law?
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