KUALA LUMPUR: An unemployed man claimed trial to 334 counts of raping his then five-year-old niece at the Ampang sessions court today. The 46-year-old is alleged to have started abusing the victim since 2010.

He remained calm as the charges were read out to him by the court interpreter and pleaded not guilty to all of them.

A total of 200 cases were read out in the morning before sessions Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam adjourned the case to 2.30pm.

The remaining 134 charges were read after Friday prayers.

The charges under Section 376B of the Penal Code for incest, carries a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping upon conviction. The offences were allegedly committed at a flat in Ampang between January 2010 to December 2014 and another three times in January 2018.

The accused is expected to be charged for another 230 counts of rape against the victim's two other siblings on Monday. They are now aged 10 and 17.

Deputy public prosecutors Raihanah Abd. Razak and Nadiah Malek Fauzie appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by defense counsel Muhammad Amin Abdullah.

Muhammad Amin had requested for the accused to be released on bail, citing a medical condition that requires monthly check-ups.

The judge however denied bail, as there is an established relationship between the accused and victim, which could lead to witness tampering.

Mention has been fixed for Mar 13.