A police corporal pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a rape charge.

Sophiaan Sahrun, 34, who is with the Wangsa Maju district police headquarters, was charged with raping a self-employed 29-year-old woman in a room at a hotel in Jalan Pudu here between 2 am and 6 am last Aug 28.

The charge, under Section 376 of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and is liable to whipping, if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi, who prosecuted, did not offer bail, but lawyer Fahmi Adilah, representing Sophiaan, requested his client to be allowed bail as he is married and has a family to support.

Judge Datin M. Kunasundary then allowed Sophiaan bail at RM10,000 in one surety and also warned him against intimidating the victim.

The court set Jan 16 for mention. - Bernama