Latest news with #Ronie
Daily Express
21-06-2025
- Daily Express
Bomoh freed of rape charges against teen
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: Ronie (right) with his counsel Azhier after the proceedings. Kota Kinabalu: A self-proclaimed traditional healer (bomoh) was freed from two charges of raping a university student, without his defence being called. Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim discharged and acquitted Ronie Apolinario, 55, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Ronie. In making the decision, the court stated that the court had thoroughly evaluated all the evidence and submissions before determining that the prosecution had not proven the essential elements of either charge. 'Having read and considered both parties' written submissions in enclosures 43, 46, and 47, and upon maximum evaluation of the evidence, the court finds that the prosecution has failed to prove the ingredients of the offence in the first and second charges. 'Accordingly, a prima facie case has not been made out,' Marlina said. On the first charge, Ronie was accused of raping the 19-year-old girl between 11am and 1pm on June 17, 2021 at a rented room in Lorong Kelapa Bersaudara, Kolombong, Inanam, near here. Advertisement On the second charge, he allegedly raped the same girl between 1.15pm and 3pm on Sept 3, 2022 at a room of a lodging house in Kg Air, here. He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years' jail, and whipping, upon conviction. The prosecution had called four witnesses during the hearing which started in October 2024 and concluded on Dec 9, 2024. Deputy Public Prosecutor DK Afiqah Alya conducted the prosecution while counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin represented Ronie. According to the police report lodged by the alleged victim, she was taken to meet the accused by her mother for a traditional healing session, purportedly to remove a spiritual disturbance or 'saka' inherited from her grandmother. * 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
Borneo Post
20-06-2025
- 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
20-06-2025
- 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
