KUCHING: A married couple pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to charges of rape, sexual assault, and drugging their then-15-year-old niece at their home in May 2025.
The accused – a 45-year-old husband and his 42-year-old wife – entered their pleas after the charges were read separately before Judge Iris Awen Jon, with Musli Abd. Hamid and Mursyida Abd. Halim presiding over the proceedings.
According to the charges, the wife committed the offences in May 2025 inside the couple’s bedroom at a house off Jalan Batu Kawa here.
She is accused of drugging the girl by placing four sleeping pills into her drink without her knowledge before assaulting her sexually.
The wife faces charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction; Section 377CA of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and whipping; and Section 328 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine.
The husband is accused of committing similar offences during the same period, at the same place in May 2025.
He also allegedly raped and physically sexually assaulted her niece.
He face charges under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 16(1) of SOACA 2017, which provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and a minimum of 10 strokes of whipping; Section 14(a) of SOACA 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping; and Section 377C of the Penal Code, read together with Section 16(1) of SOACA 2017, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping.
Section 16(1) of SOACA 2017 applies to offenders in a position of trust with the child and carries an additional prison term of up to five years and whipping of no fewer than two strokes.
The couple also faces a joint charge under Section 5 of SOACA 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act and Section 34 of the Penal Code.
They are accused of recording videos and taking photographs of themselves engaging in sexual activities with the victim using a mobile phone at the same place and time.
If convicted under Section 5 of SOACA 2017, the accused face imprisonment of up to 30 years and whipping of up to two strokes.
The court denied bail for both accused and ordered them to be remanded at Puncak Borneo Prison until the disposal of the case.
Pre-trial case management has been scheduled for September 28 for the wife, October 6 for the husband, and a joint pre-trial management for both on October 6.
It is understood that the victim’s mother lodged a police report on August 18 after the husband allegedly sent a nude photo of the victim to her during a heated argument.
The couple was arrested on August 22. It is also understood that the husband allegedly committed the offences at the direction of his wife, who is said to be hypersexual.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Chuah Kai Sheng, and two others. Both the accused were represented by legal counsel.
