Kota Kinabalu: A local was freed from three counts of committing sexual physical harassment against his 12-year-old daughter, seven years ago.
Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim discharge and acquitted the man after ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the man.
On the first to third count, the man was accused of committing the offence by fondling the girl’s breasts and touching her private part on Sept 1, Sept 2 and Sept 3, 2019 between 9pm and 5am at a house in Beaufort.
The offence, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Several witnesses had been called to testify in the hearing.
Counsels Jason Chin Wei Jye and Beverly Ivy defended the man.
In another case, a 48-year-old shop assistant was called to enter defence on a charge of committing sexual physical harassment against a-nine-year-old girl.
Sessions Court Judge Monica Linsua made the order for Lai Hiap Lee after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
The court set Oct 22 this year for Lai’s defence and his bail was extended.
Lai allegedly committed the offence by squeezing the girl’s breasts in the evening on May 18, 2025 at a premises in Jalan Kobusak Nosoob, Penampang.
Six witnesses had been called during the prosecution stage.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir conducted the prosecution while counsel Jagnesh Jaya represented Lai.
