Latest news with #Azhier
Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Borneo Post
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.
Daily Express
18 hours ago
- Daily Express
Bomoh acquitted of rape charges
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 Text Size: Ronie (right) with his counsel Azhier after the proceedings. KOTA KINABALU: A 55-year-old self-styled bomoh (traditional healer) was acquitted of two charges of raping a university student without being called to enter his defence. Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Ronie Apolinario after assessing the evidence and submissions. Advertisement The charges involved separate incidents allegedly committed in 2021 and 2022 at two locations in Inanam and Kg Air involving the same 19-year-old victim. Ronie had faced prosecution under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries up to 20 years in jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial, which began in October 2024, saw four prosecution witnesses testify, with Deputy Public Prosecutor DK Afiqah Alya leading the case and Azhier Farhan Arisin representing the accused. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
