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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.

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.