MUAR: A restaurant worker pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to charges of raping an underage girlfriend, resulting in her giving birth at a house in the Batu Pahat district last year.
The accused, Ong Cheng Jun, 19, made the plea after the charges under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code were read before Judge Irwan Suainbon, which carries a jail term not exceeding 20 years and caning.
According to the charge sheet, Ong was accused of raping his 15-year-old girlfriend at his home in Batu Pahat around 5pm in January last year.
Based on police reports, the incident was discovered by a teacher after noticing physical changes in the victim.
The teacher then informed the victim's parents, who refused to believe it and assumed their child was suffering from stomach problems.
On Aug 21 last year, the victim was taken to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI), Batu Pahat, for examination, and the doctor confirmed that she was already 23 weeks pregnant at the time.
Following that, the victim's family reported the incident to the Batu Pahat district police headquarters (IPD).
Acting on the information, the police successfully apprehended the accused on Jalan Tanjung Laboh, Batu Pahat, at 3pm on Sept 25 last year.
The victim was reported to have dropped out of school and safely gave birth to a baby boy in October last year.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Danial Munir conducted the prosecution while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
Earlier, the prosecution informed the court that they did not offer bail to the accused because of the seriousness of his crime.
After considering the arguments and appeals of the accused, the court allowed him to be released on bail in the amount of RM8,000 with one surety.
At the same time, the court set April 23 for the re-mention of the case, social reports, facts, and also the sentencing of the accused.
