PETALING JAYA: Two graduates have been charged with 23 counts of prostitution-related offences involving five women in the Klang Valley.

Khairul Azzuar Yusoff, 28, a medical graduate, was charged with four counts of living on the earnings of prostitution and immoral activities of the victims aged between 19 and 22.

His friend Mohyuddin Ahmad Fajaruddin, 23, an oil and gas graduate, was charged with five counts of committing the same offences since last year.

They were charged under Section 372A(1) of the Penal Code.

On the offence of acting as an intermediary in prostitution, Khairul Azzuar was charged with seven counts and Mohyuddin with two.

Khairul Azzuar and Mohyuddin were also jointly charged with three counts of abetting each another with living on the earnings of the immoral activities of the five women.

The duo claimed trial before Sessions judge Mohamed Mokhzani Mokhtar, who set April 18 for mention.

On March 8, the duo had pleaded not guilty before Kuala Lumpur Sessions judge M. Kunasundary to 54 counts of committing the same offences involving 14 women, including two underage girls and two Indonesian women.

Khairul Azzuar, who is applying for housemanship, was also charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while he and Mohyuddin were jointly charged with three counts of acting as middlemen in the prostitution of the women.

Judge Kunasundary did not grant bail and fixed April 6 for mention.-thestar