Ten teenagers were charged in the Magistrate's Court in Taiping today with raping a 13-year-old girl last month.

However, no plea was recorded from the boys after the charge was read out to them by a court interpreter before magistrate Mohd Hairol Jemain in a closed-door proceeding.

Met by reporters, the prosecuting officer from the Royal Malaysia Police, Inspector Siti Nor Rasyidah M Nadzri, said the teenagers, aged between 15 and 17, allegedly committed the offence in an empty house and several other locations in Kamunting, Taiping, between 9.30am and 3.30pm from Sept 18 to 25.

The charge, under Section 376(2)(d) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping, upon conviction.

“The court allowed the teenagers bail of between RM3,500 and RM6,000 in one surety each, with an additional condition that they cannot disturb the victim,” Siti Nor Rasyidah said, adding that all the teenagers were represented by lawyer M Kathan from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

The case has been set for mention on Nov 28.

- Bernama