Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old farmer was ordered to enter his defence on a charge of sexually harassing his 12 year-old niece.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus made the decision after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case.
The court set Feb Jan 24, Feb 23 and 28 next year for the man’s defence.
The man is accused of committing the sexual offence by fondling the girl’s breasts and rubbing his genitals on her rear between November 2018 and May 2018 at a village in Kota Marudu.
The offence under Section 14 (a) of Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The prosecution had called nine witnesses during the hearing. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tham Pou Jin stood in for DPP Mas Izzaty Lukman.
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