SIBU: A lion dancer has been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old at a playground near Emma's Fort in Kanowit early Thursday (Jan 30) morning.

The man, a 41-year-old widower, was arrested at his home in Delta Road shortly after a police report was lodged by the girl's mother on Wednesday (Jan 29) night.

Kanowit OCPD Deputy Supt Tega Bilong said preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, who was a Form 2 student, went out with lion dancer to a playground for a chat around 5.00am on Wednesday.

"While they were chatting, the suspect asked the victim to have sex. The victim did not resist when he pulled down her pants and kissed her on her cheek," he said.

However, he said the victim later asked the suspect to stop but was ignored.

DSP Tega said the man then went back to perform a lion dance while the victim walked to the coffee shop where she is working part-time.

"After returning home, the victim was questioned by her mother who received information that the victim was seen with the suspect at the playground."

"The victim tried to deny having sex with the suspect but eventually revealed the truth after being coerced by her mother," Tega said.

He said the victim is the second of three siblings in the family and had been in a relationship with the suspect since they met earlier this month.

The Criminal Investigation Department team arrested the lion dancer at 1.30am on Thursday.

According to DSP Tega, the victim has now been referred to the Sibu Hospital Specialist Clinic for medical examination.

He said the suspect had been remanded under Section 376 of the Penal Code for statutory rape.