MALAYSIA
Malaysia: Aquatics coach held over alleged rape of diver
The 35-year coach was arrested on Monday.
On Monday, police detained a national aquatics coach over the alleged rape of a diving athlete at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
The coach, a 35-year-old man from China who is said to be a former Olympian, has been working in Malaysia for over five years.
He is also said to be married to a Malaysian and has permanent residence.
According to police, the aquatics coach will be remanded until 7 October.
Rape allegations
Kuala Lumpur police chief commissioner Datuk Amar Singh said that the alleged rape occurred on 26 September, but it took until last Sunday for the victim to report the incident, as she had feared for her life.
"The victim lodged a report on Sunday in fear of her own safety," he said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for Rape.
This is the first major allegation of sexual abuse in the Malaysian sporting fraternity for more than two decades.
Back in 1996, national athletics coach C. Ramanathan was convicted of molesting two female athletes.
He was sentenced to four years in jail on each charge, but after a series of appeals walked free in 2011 having served 10 months.