Ex-convict charged with robbery, attempted rape of a septuagenarian

TAIPING - An unemployed individual pleaded not guilty in the Taiping Sessions Court today to three charges of robbery and attempted rape against an elderly woman last week.

The accused, S Saaran, 32, who had just completed a two-month prison sentence, made this plea after the charges were read before Judge Nabisha Ibrahim.

According to the charges, Saaran was accused of attempting to rape a 75-year-old woman in the living room of a house in Taman Assam Maju, Larut Matang district, at around 8:30 am on Aug 15, 2023.

The prosecution was conducted under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and caning.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Syuhada Muhammad Lutfi offered bail at RM20,000, but the accused, who was not represented by a lawyer, appealed for the bail amount to be reduced due to lack of income as he had just been released from prison.

The court then set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and imposed the condition not to approach or disturb the victim and witnesses until the case was concluded.

In the same proceeding, Saaran was charged with armed robbery, causing injuries to the victim, and robbing her of RM10 in cash and a gold chain.

The accused was also charged with the same robbery against a 55-year-old man who is the victim's son-in-law, robbing him of RM5,000 in cash and a Honda car.

Both offences were alleged to have occurred at the same location, time, and date.

The prosecution was conducted under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which, if proven guilty, carries a penalty of imprisonment up to 20 years and a fine or caning, as well as under Section 392 of the same code, which provides a prison sentence of up to 14 years and a fine or caning.

For these two charges, the court set bail at RM20,000 with the additional condition not to approach or disturb the victim and witnesses until the case was concluded.

The court also scheduled Sept 25 for the next hearing for all three cases, for document submission and the appointment of a lawyer.

On Aug 17, Sinar reported that an elderly woman became a robbery victim and was assaulted by a man, resulting in a loss of over RM5,000 for the victim.

In that incident, a Honda HRV vehicle belonging to the victim's son-in-law was also stolen, but it was later found about 1.3 kilometres from the crime scene.