A taxi driver was charged in the Sessions Court in Sepang today with raping an American teacher last month.

S Prakash Kumar, 39, claimed trial to raping the 24-year-old woman in a room at the Lakeside Villa homestay in Taman Pantai Sepang Putra, Sungai Pelek, Sepang about 1am on March 12, this year.

Judge Norhayati Mohd Yunus set bail at RM25,000 in two sureties and fixed May 6 for mention of the case.

She further ordered the accused, who was unrepresented, to report to the police station every first week of the month until the disposal of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Kamaliah Yahdi appeared for the prosecution.

In Petaling Jaya, Prakash Kumar and two other men also claimed trial in three separate courts to abducting and robbing the same victim.

The accused, together with scrap metal collector R Muthu, 46, and car wash worker AP Joseph Aaron, 26, allegedly abducted the woman in front of a shopping centre in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur at 6pm on March 11, this year.

Magistrate Surya Wati Shawal set bail at RM5,000 in one surety each and ordered them to surrender their passports to the court, pending disposal of the case.

Muthu and Joseph Aaron were also charged in the Sessions Court with jointly robbing the victim of RM300 and a mobile phone at the same place, day and time; they were allegedly armed with a knife.

Judge Rozina Ayob set bail at RM5,000 in one surety each and also ordered them to report to the police station, once a month, until disposal of the case.

Meanwhile, Prakash Kumar was charged in the Sessions court with a similar offence, and Judge Yasmin Abdul Razak set bail at RM8,000 in one surety.

The courts fixed May 16 for mention of the case.

Dalira Din, Wan Mohd Bukhari Wan Mohd and Dhiya Syazwani Izyan Mohd Akhir were the deputy public prosecutors in the respective courts.

- Bernama