PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: A policeman was yesterday charged at the Sessions Court with raping his 6-year-old niece last month.

The constable, 22, attached to the Kota Damansara police station, is alleged to have committed the offence in his house at Section 14 here last month. He claimed trial.

Assistant public prosecutor Dhiya Shazwani Izyan Mohd Akhir, who opposed bail, said: "If bail is granted, the accused might harass the victim and two other underage witnesses who are also related to him."

Dhiya also said that at the time of the offence, the victim was staying with the accused and his wife as well as the victim's grandmother.

However, she was now in her mother's care in Kelantan.

Counsel Esther Tan Siew Choo, for the accused, pleaded for bail and urged judge Rozina Ayob to impose a reasonable amount.

"The accused's wife, who is going to bail him out, is a housewife," she said.

"She has promised to watch her husband and make sure that he attends court proceedings."

Tan added that the accused had not been suspended from the service.

Rozina granted RM6,000 bail in one surety and warned the accused not to go near or harass the victim and witnesses. She fixed hearing for Feb 10.