A former Malacca Special Branch chief was today acquitted of raping a mentally-challenged woman, six years ago, when the High Court found she was a willing partner.

Judge Anita Harun freed Mat Susah Sadikin, 68, after the defence succeeded in casting a reasonable doubt on the case.

"From the testimony of the victim (who was 23 then), she consented to have sex with the accused.

"This is based on her conduct as she did not object to it, she wasn't scared and continued to go to the accused's shop and have sex with him," she said.

Mat Susah, who held the rank of ACP when he was the Malacca Special Branch chief, was charged with raping the woman in a storeroom at his retail shop in Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Kampung Baru here between Oct 1 and 31, 2003.

Victim gave birth to a boy

Anita said the victim was able to decide whether to consent to sexual relations with Mat Susah.

"The victim chose to continue going to the shop to meet the accused. This is against the conduct of a person who had been raped or had sex against her will," she said.

According to the facts of the case, the sexual relations stopped when the victim's sister discovered that she (victim) was two months pregnant.

Deputy prosecuting officer Aidatul Azura Zainal Abidin told the court that the victim had given birth to a boy, who is now five years old.

Mat Susah was represented by Dr Mohd Radzuan Ibrahim.

- Bernama