A 38-year-old telecommunications shop owner claimed trial at the Penang magistrate's court to charges of causing grievous harm to a teenager and holding her captive for more than a day.

Yeap Yew Lim was charged with harming Sonia Sharma Sudesh Kumar Sharma, 19, by allegedly assaulting her with a hard plastic rod and a lit cigarette.

The charge under Section 324 of the Penal Code carries a jail sentence of up to three years, a fine or whipping, or any two penalties on conviction.

Yeap was also charged with keeping Sonia in captivity for nearly 30 hours. The charge under Section 342 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to a year or a RM2,000 fine, or both on conviction.

He was alleged to have committed the offences at Block D-G-4, Rifle Range Flats, Air Itam, at 10pm on March 10.

Yeap pleaded not guilty before magistrate Priscilla HN Rajan, after prosecuting officer Low Kam Fatt read out the charges. He was allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety for both charges.

Drug possession

He was also charged under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for allegedly being in possession of 1gm of amphethamine-type stimulant pills at the same place at 7.15pm on March 11.

Yeap, who was represented by S Rajendran and Frankie Lim, was allowed bail of RM3,000 on the drug charge.

The charges are scheduled for mention at the same court on April 22, pending completion of a medical report.

The case was widely reported in the local media. Sonia claimed to have sustained injuries to her eye, face and body as a result of the alleged abuse.

Although born in India, she has lived in Malaysia virtually all her life, and has applied for citizenship.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.