Judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced lorry driver B Satia, 27, and his friend T Khanesen, 31, after finding that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of its case.

“After taking into account mitigation and the facts that were examined as fairly as possible, I consider it inappropriate to give the good behaviour bond as requested by the two accused,” the judge said.

Earlier, lawyers Amin Abdullah and K Ponnusamy asked for the pair to be punished in the form of a good behaviour bond, saying the two accused were the main breadwinners of their families and were first-time offenders.

“We are also requesting a stay of execution of the sentence while waiting for an appeal to be filed in the High Court,” Ponnusamy said.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Aisyah Zanyuin objected to the request, saying rape was a serious offence.

“The prosecution is requesting a severe punishment as a lesson to the two accused so that they are held accountable for the offence committed.

“The prosecution also calls for an immediate custodial sentence to emphasise public disapproval, to punish the offenders and, most of all, to protect women,” Aisyah said.

The court agreed to stay the execution of the sentence but increased the bail amount from RM9,000 to RM11,000 each to ensure the pair would be present in future proceedings.

A total of 14 prosecution witnesses and seven defence witnesses, including the two accused, testified throughout the trial which started in February.

On May 24 last year, Satia was charged with raping an 18-year-old girl in a Honda City near an entertainment centre at Jalan Tun Razak here, at 5.20am on May 13, 2023.

Khanesen, a construction site supervisor, was charged with committing the same offence on the same victim at 5.06am in the same location.

Both accused were charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and whipping.