Trader freed of rape charge
08 Dec 2016 / 14:22 H.
Pix for illustration purposes. — AFP
Mohammad Shariff waves as he leaves the Sessions Court in Kuala Kangsar upon his acquittal on Dec 8, 2016.
KUALA KANGSAR: The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged a trader of raping a teenage girl two years ago.
Judge Niran Tan Kran handed down the decision after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Mohammad Shariff Saad, 37.
"I studied the testimonies and the complainant's demeanour throughout the trial. I found that the complainant's testimony was inconsistent, not credible and there were material contradictions," he said.
Mohammad Shariff was accused of committing the offence at an oil palm plantation in Lempor near Manong at 9.30pm on Aug 5, 2014.
The prosecution was conducted by DPP Nazratul Natrah Mohd Yusuf while Mohammad Shariff was represented by lawyer Ahmad Shamil Azad Abdul Halim. — Bernama