According to an Utusan Malaysia report, the 74-year-old man made the plea after the charges were read out in front of presiding judges Noor Aini Yusof and Norhayati Mohd Yunus.

In the six charges read before Noor Aini, the accused was charged with raping a child who was then seven years old in Jalan Baru, George Town, between Jan 1, 2018 and Dec 31, 2020.

Meanwhile, 11 other charges were read before Norhayati, where the accused was charged with raping and committing physical sexual assault on a then five-year-old child, the first victim’s sister, at the same location between Jan 1, 2014 and March 2021.

The accused was charged under Section 376 (1)(e) of the Penal Code for rape and Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 for sexual assault, with each carrying a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and whipping.

The case was handled by deputy public prosecutors Aisyah Al Humayrah Kamarulzaman and Syeqal Che Murat.

Neither judge granted the accused bail.  Both courts set July 29 for re-mention and for a lawyer to be appointed.