Bangladeshi man detained on suspicion of raping handicapped girl

Police have detained a Bangladeshi man to assist in investigations into a case of a handicapped girl who was raped along the stairway of an apartment block in Bayan Baru here on Sunday.

According to a police spokesman, the man, aged 38, was detained at about 5.30 pm yesterday after the security guards at the apartment saw the suspect behaving suspiciously and carrying the 13-year-old victim to the stairs.

"The security guard informed the victim's father about the incident before the father went with several other residents to search for the Bangladeshi man who was found with the victim who is autistic," he said here on Monday.

He added that the victim claimed she had been raped several times before by the suspect and was paid RM10 not to tell anyone about it.

Penang Criminal Investigation Department Chief Datuk Mohd Zakaria Ahmad, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said the teenager had been sent to the Penang Hospital to be examined.

The Bangladeshi man who works in a factory in the Bayan Lepas area will be remanded for four days to assist in the investigations.