Malaysian Influencer Goes on Trial for Raping 2 Girls in Apartment

JAKARTA - A social media influencer (medsos) was charged with rape and sexual harassment of two teenage girls by the Malaysian District Court.

The defendant, named Muhammad Iman Hazriq Azizan, 23, pleaded not guilty to the two charges read before Judges Tasnim Abu Bakar and Mohd Kafli Che Ali on Tuesday, February 3.

The first charge accuses him of raping a 15-year-old girl in an apartment in Wangsa Maju on January 22.

This charge under Article 375 (g) of the Criminal Code can be punished with a maximum of 20 years in prison and whipping.

The second charge involves physical sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl at the same location and time.

This charge is regulated in the 2017 Law on Sexual Offenses against Children, which can also be punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Shakira Aliana Alias ​​proposed a bail of RM15,000 for each charge against the accused with several conditions.

The conditions include handing over passports and reporting to the police every month.

The lawyer for the defendant, Mohamad Akmal Mohd Taufik, asked for a lower bail, citing his client's role as a family breadwinner.

"He earns RM2,000 a month as a seller in a shoe store and supports his parents and siblings," the lawyer said, quoted by Bernama.

The two judges then set bail of RM10,000 for each charge with one guarantor, with the imposition of the conditions requested by the prosecutor.

The next hearing regarding the Malaysian social media influencer who committed rape and sexual harassment against these two teenage girls will take place on March 4 and April 2.