Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old security guard who admitted to sexually harassing a schoolgirl told the Sessions Court on Tuesday that “no one is free from making mistakes.”Mohd Firdaus Basir made the plea and said those words before Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan during pre-trial case management of the case on Tuesday.
Before he made the plea, Firdaus questioned the court on whether he would be punished without mercy? And the court answered him, “If you’re saying there is no mercy, I’m human, not a robot. You will be given the opportunity to mitigate before sentencing.”Firdaus then said he humbly admitted his wrongdoing.
However, the facts of the case is not ready yet and that Firdaus’ sentencing had deferred to June 11 this year.
He is accused of committing the offence on the 11-year and nine-month-old girl by hugging her and kissing her cheeks for sexual purpose at 5.50am on Jan 13 this year at a school in Tuaran.
The offence under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (SOACA), which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
There was additional punishment against Mohd Firdaus if he convicted, which is under Section 16(1) of SOACA carries a jail term of up to five years, and whipping at least two strokes.
Pending the date, Mohd Firdaus was ordered remanded further.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim appeared for the prosecution while Firdaus was not represented.
