Kota Kinabalu: A 45-year-old self-employed claimed trial to two counts of raping his niece and committing physical sexual harassment against her.
The man made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, after the charges were to him.
On the first count, the man is accused of raping the 16-year-old girl between 5.30am and 7.10am on Feb 26 this year inside a room of a house in Tuaran.
The offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
On the second count, he allegedly committed the sexual abuse against the same girl by touching her private part at 5.30am on the same day and place.
For the offence, he was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court set Apr 28 this year and ordered the man to be remanded further pending the disposal of his case.
The court also advised the man to engage a lawyer to represent him.
Earlier, the prosecution objected to offer bail to the man on the grounds that the alleged victim was his niece.
However, the man asked for bail saying that he has two wives and that he was not staying with the alleged victim.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah appeared for the prosecution while the man was not represented.
