7 men acquitted of raping 16-year-old girl
JOHOR BARU, May 25 — The Sessions Court today acquitted and discharged seven men charged with raping a 16-year-old girl at a hotel here last year.
Judge Zamri Bakar ordered the release of Mohammad Rafiuddin Zainuddin, 22, Khairussani Ahmad, 26, Norazam Hamdan, 29, Mohammad Alif Ali Hashim, 23, Muhammad Saifuddin Abdul Rahman, 26, Mohamed Razif Kasim, 30, and Mohamad Shafiq Abdul Jalil, 21, after the defence raised reasonable doubt in the case.
The men were alleged to have committed the offence at a room in Hotel Fully in Taman Johor Jaya at 12.30am on May 22, 2011, and were charged under Section 376 (2)(c) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence and caning upon conviction.
In his judgement, Zamri said conflicting facts in the testimony of the victim had raised doubt.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Norashikin Ibrahim while the men were represented by counsel Zamri Idrus, Muhammad Abd Kadir and Mohd Shujaa Halim. — Bernama
