A medical student from a university in Egypt and a hotel worker pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to 54 prostitution-related charges.

Khairul Azzuar Yusuff, 28, and Mohyuddin Ahmad Fajarudin, 23, made the plea after all the charges were read out to them before judge Datin M. Kunasundary.

The offences included for living on the earnings from prostitution where Khairul Azzuar, who is waiting to do his housemanship in May this year, and Mohyuddin faced 13 and nine charges, respectively.

For the offence, they are charged under Section 372A(1) of the Penal Code, which provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years and whipping and is also liable to fine, if found guilty.

Khairul Azzuar and Mohyuddin also faced 23 and six counts, respectively, and another three counts jointly, under Section 372(1)(f) of the same law for acting as intermediaries in the prostitution activity.]

All the offences were allegedly committed at several hotels in the federal capital between June 2016 and Feb 7 last year, involving 14 victims aged between 16 and 41, including two Indonesians.

Khairul Azzuar also pleaded not guilty to another charge with raping a 14-year-old girl at a house in Bandar Sri Permaisuri here.

The charge for rape, under Section 376 of the Penal Code, carries an imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

For the interest of all parties involved, the court did not allow bail for both accused.

The court set April 6 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas prosecuted, while lawyers

P. Muniswer and Ahmad Faris Khairuddin represented Khairul Azzuar and Mohyuddin, respectively. - BERNAMA