Traditional healer freed from charges of raping student
Ronie (right) with his counsel Azhier leaving the courtroom after the acquittal today.
KOTA KINABALU (June 20): A foreigner, who claimed himself to be a traditional healer, was freed by a Sessions Court here from two charges of raping a university student.
In her reserved ruling, judge Marlina Ibrahim acquitted and discharged Ronie Apolinario, 52, without calling for his defence.
The court held that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Ronie.
On the first charge, Ronie was alleged to have raped the victim, who was 19 years old at the time, at a rented room in Inanam on June 17, 2021.
On the second charge, he was accused of committing a similar offence on the same victim at a lodging at the City area on September 3, 2022.
Both charges were brought under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years' imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.
The prosecution had called four witnesses to testify against Ronie since the trial began in October 2024 and concluded on December 9, 2024.
Defence counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin represented Ronie.
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