Kota Kinabalu: An 18-year-old was charged with committing physical sexual harassment against a 10-year-old boy.
The teenager pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim.
AdvertisementHe allegedly committed the offence by sodomising the boy between 6am and 7.30am in July 2019 inside a toilet of a mosque in Beaufort.
The court heard that the alleged victim was the teenager’s friend.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell Sabah Deepwater Production Manager Earns Unsung Hero Award Daily Express had the opportunity to interview Musti whose story reflects the power of determination and resilience. Read more The offence was under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, upon conviction.
The court set Jan 16, 2025 for mention and released the teenager on a bail of RM5,000 in two local sureties.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The teenager was also ordered to report to the nearest police station once a month.
Earlier, the prosecution asked for no bail to be given and asked for a mention date. However, if the court granted bail, the prosecution suggested RM10,000 with sureties and several conditions.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The teenager who was not represented, asked for the bail sum to be reduced saying that his family could not afford to pay the bail if the amount is high.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sofia S. Sawayan appeared for the prosecution while the teenager was not represented.