Kota Kinabalu: A 71-year-old religious teacher was charged with committing physical sexual harassment against a 13-year-old girl.
The man pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Ummu Khaltom Abd Samad, to the charge against him, Wednesday.
He is accused of committing the offence by hugging and kissing her as well as fondling her breasts at 8pm on March 3 this year at a house in Taman Nountun Juta, Inanam, near here.
The offence under Section 14 (a) of Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell’s Access to Energy helps power lives of isolated communities in Sabah Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid. Read more There is an additional punishment for the man under Section 16(1) of the same Act carries a jail term of up to five years, and whipping at least two strokes, on conviction.
The court set May 23 this year for pre-trial case management and the man was released on bail of RM15,000 with RM10,000 deposited in two local sureties having permanent address.
The man also was ordered to report to police station here every first and third Monday of the month until the disposal of his case.
The court also ordered for any travelling documents and passport to be impounded by the court.
The court reminded the man that in the event the court received any official complaint report from the alleged victim or any family members as well as potential witnesses either physically or via phone, the court will not hesitate to revoke his bail.
Fail to furnish bail, he will be remanded under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan appeared for the prosecution while counsel Rizwandean M Borhan defended the man.
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