Kota Kinabalu: An Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant contestant broke down when testifying against a 52-year-old politician accused of molesting her, Tuesday, forcing magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to stand down the hearing for a few minutes.
The 22-year-old cried when asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan how she felt when the accused, Phillip Among, caressed her back.
She said she was shocked and felt uncomfortable when he caressed her while saying ‘halus oh belakang kau, tiada jerawat,’ (the skin of your back is smooth, no pimples).
Testifying in the first day of trial, Tuesday, she said her back was exposed because she wore a bareback dress.
She said although Philip did the same at the staircase while they were going up to a studio for a photo shoot, she thought positively about him.
She said there was no one with her when it happened. She was the first witness in the hearing of Philip who faces four counts of molesting her on May 19, 2021 at 2pm, 3.30pm, 9.45pm and 10pm, respectively, at a staircase next to Ever Best Photo in Asia City, in Studio Darvel Bay Borneo Holidays Sdn Bhd in Asia City, in a moving vehicle while on the way from a dinner to an old office in the city and in an office in Metro Town.
The offence under Section 354 of the Penal Code provides a jail term of up to 10 years, or with fine or with whipping or with any two of such punishments, on conviction.
Phillip, who was technical head for the 2021 Unduk Ngadau competition, had on June 10, 2021 claimed trial to the charges.
According to the witness, she went to Kota Kinabalu from Kota Marudu on May 19, 2021 with one Puan Alice and after arriving in Kota Kinabalu at about 11am, Philip fetched her in a black Ninja King.
She said Alice told Philip to take care of her as she (Alice) could not join the photo shoot because she had other matters.
Before going to the studio, the witness said she went to the Ever best Photo which was one building with the studio, to choose dress for photo shoot session.
She said after the incident at the staircase, she and Philip went to the studio for a photo shoot where a staff named Olivia did makeup on her.
She said during the photo shoot, she did not know how to pose for the camera and Philip set her body posture by touching her shoulder and her body.
There were five people at the studio and one of them was the photographer known as “Orang Putih Kita”.
She said when Philip touched her shoulder and body, she felt uncomfortable but did not dare speak for fear that Philip would be offended because she respected Philip as one of the committee members at Unduk Ngadau State Level.
To a question from Siti Hajar, she said the photographer saw Philip’s act at the time.
She said her shoulder was exposed because of the dress’s design.
Phillip who was released on extended bail, was represented by counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah and Azhier Farhan Arisin.
The trial continues.
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