Kota Kinabalu: A 64-year-old lorry driver claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to a charge of physically sexually harassing his teenage niece.
The accused pleaded not guilty before Judge Marlina Ibrahim to committing the alleged offence against the 14-year-old girl at a factory quarters in Bundusan, Penampang, in May this year.
The charge, framed under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for a prison term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Judge Marlina set Sept 15 for pre-trial case management and granted the unrepresented man bail at RM10,000 in two local sureties.
The court also ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and issued a strict warning against tampering with prosecution witnesses, particularly the alleged victim.
