Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

KOTA KINABALU: A Sessions Court judge reprimanded a defence counsel on Wednesday for abruptly discharging herself from a rape case without prior notice, causing the scheduled trial to be postponed.

The case involved Midrick Makales, who is accused of raping his 21-year-old neighbour in a rented room in Lorong Buah Duku on Jan 13.

The lawyer informed the court she was stepping down due to a lack of instructions, case documents, and payment from the accused's family.

Judge Elsie Primus, visibly frustrated, said the last-minute move wasted court time that could have been allocated to other cases.

The court granted the withdrawal, with no objection from the prosecution, and fixed May 13 for mention to confirm if Midrick’s family could secure new legal representation.