KUALA LUMPUR: National diving squad coach Huang Qiang was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court on a charge of raping a national diver without calling for his defence.

Judge Noradura Hamzah ordered Huang, 36, who is from China, to be released after finding that the pro­secution had failed to establish a prima facie in the case.

“The court finds most of the testimony by the victim is merely presumptuous and when compared with the testimony of other witnesses, namely the victim's cousin and investigation officer in the case, there were material contradictions.’

She said the prosecution also failed to prove that the alleged action by the accused was made without the victim's consent.

"There was no evidence by the victim on the issue of consent as mentioned during the trial. On the issue of the victim not putting up a struggle because of fear cannot be accepted because the victim herself is strong and fit and capable of fighting to avoid the incident," she said.

Quang was charged with raping the national diver, then aged 20, at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil at 5.30pm on Sept 26 last year. — Bernama