Bahau: Four men were charged in the Sessions Court here today with the rape of an underage girl in Bahau, Jempol, last Saturday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Y. Sayrran Kumar, 21, K. Kumar, 40, G. Niressh Pillai, 21, and M. Thineshvaran, 30, are accused of raping the girl, aged 11 years and 10 months, at a house in Taman Meranti Bahau between 11 am and 3.30 pm on August 23. Sayrran faces additional charges for allegedly raping the same victim in a car near a field in Jempol at 11.30 am last June, and for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl at a house in Taman Meranti Bahau between 11.30 am and noon on the same day in August.

The charges are framed under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, which stipulates imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction. All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were read out separately to them before Judge Surita Budin.

Sayrran was granted bail of RM30,000 for the three charges. Bail for Kumar and Thineshvaran was set at RM10,000 each, while Niressh's bail was set at RM5,000. The accused were also ordered to report to a nearby police station once a month, surrender their passports to the court, and refrain from intimidating witnesses. The case is scheduled for mention on October 15.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni represented the prosecution. Sayrran and Niressh were represented by lawyer Revin Kumar, Thineshvaran by Ramzani Idris, and Kumar by S. Virochean.