Court issues warrant of arrest on man guilty of raping minor

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 27, 2014): The Sessions Court here issued a warrant of arrest on a restaurant operations manager who failed to attend his sentencing today after being found guilty of raping a minor whom he later married.
Judge Ummu Khaltom Abd Samad ordered for the arrest of Riduan Masmud, 40, and fixed Feb 3 for review of the arrest warrant.
A medical certificate from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here was tendered stating the convict was unfit to be present in court today.
However, Ummu Khaltom was not satisfied with the details provided on the certificate which did not state his illness and when he would be well enough to be present in court.
Counsel YS Lo decided to leave the matter to the court after he failed to contact his client and his family members to determine his illness during a one-hour adjournment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin said it was unusual that Riduan would suddenly fall ill and not be present for his sentencing when he appeared on the day of ruling last Friday.
Riduan had pleaded not guilty to raping a 12-year-old schoolgirl between 9am and 10am on Feb 18 last year by the roadside near the Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam near here.
He faces a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping.
On May 20 last year, Riduan told the court that he had married the girl.
The prosecution produced 19 witnesses in a hearing held between July 1 and Nov 14 last year, while Riduan, who was unrepresented when defence was called, produced three witnesses including himself. – Bernama