Former national diving coach Huang Qiang was released yet again by the High Court on charges of raping a female national athlete at the National Sports Aquatic Complex three years ago.
Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali made the decision after dismissing the prosecution’s appeal and upholding the Sessions Court’s previous decision to release Qiang on April 9, 2018 and January 31, last year.
Source: Berita Harian
As reported by Berita Harian, Mohd Nazlan said the defense had raised the issue of intervals on closed-circuit camera (CCTV) footage in the dry gym, which gave a more detailed picture of the accused’s defence. He elaborated,
“The defense focused on the issue of time intervals showing the time spent in the dry gym and returning to the pool as recorded by CCTV. The defence shows that the accused did not have sufficient time for the rape incident to happen and that it did not support the prosecution’s case.”
On October 11, 2017, Huang, who is from China and is a Malaysian citizen, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to charges of raping a victim in a dry gym at the National Sports Aquatic Complex, Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, Sri Petaling, Cheras, at Kuala Lumpur at 5.30pm, September 26, 2017.
Source: FMT
He was charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping, upon conviction. On April 9, 2018, Huang was released after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him at the end of the prosecution’s case.
However, on October 31, 2018, the High Court ordered the accused to defend himself after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision to acquit Huang. He was again released on January 31, 2019 after finding that the defense had raised reasonable doubts about the case of Huang, 37, at the end of his defense in the Sessions Court.
We hope this real culprit will be brought to justice soon as surely more proof will be discovered as time goes by.
Also read: M’sian Rapist & Killer Escape Death Sentence, But Victim Families Want Him Hanged
