Sexual assault: Foreigner faces another charge

Kota Kinabalu: A 39-year-old foreigner who previously claimed trial to two counts of committing sexual offence against two siblings, faced another charge of committing the same offence against another minor, Friday.

Selamat Asing pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz.

He is accused of committing the offence by inserting his finger into the eight-year-old girl’s private part at 4pm on Aug 4, 2020 at a house in Sipitang.

The offence under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and liable to whipping, upon conviction.

The court set April 27 for case management and Sept 1-2 for hearing.

No bail was offered to Selamat pending the disposal of his case.

On Dec 15, 2020, Selamat claimed trial to two charges against him.

On the first count, Selamat is accused of committing sexual abuse by touching and inserting his finger into the seven years-old girl’s private part in a house in a village in Sipitang between April and August 2020.

On the second count, he allegedly committed the same offence against a five-year-old girl at the same place and time.

For the two charges, the prosecution had served all documents related to the cases on Friday and Selamat will go trial on March 29–30.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Amirah Muhammad Ali informed the court that the prosecution will call about eight witnesses to testify during the hearing.