Kota Kinabalu: A 35-year-old farmer, charged with committing physical sexual harassment against his 12 year-old niece, will know his fate on Feb 17 this year.
The decision date for the man’s case was fixed by Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus.
The court also set on or before Jan 27 this year for the defence to file reply submissions, if any.
The court had given the date for submissions when the defence closed its case after calling four witnesses.
The man is accused of committing the sexual offence by fondling the girl’s breasts and rubbing his genitals on her rear end at 11am in November 2018 to May 2019 at a village in Kota Marudu.
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.
The man was called on Dec 29, 2021 to enter his defence after the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
About nine prosecution and four defence witnesses were called to testify in the hearing.
The court ordered the man’s bail to be extended pending the disposal of his case.
In another case, a man was jailed five years and ordered to get a stroke of the cane for taking syabu repeatedly.
Louis Fredorin admitted to the charge against him.
He was arrested on Nov 4, 2022 after his urine was tested positive for drug at the Penampang police station and he has several convictions for taking the drug.
After completing his jail sentence, the court ordered Louis to be placed under police supervision for two years.
Meanwhile, a Filipino who entered the State illegally, was jailed four months.
Adwin Ali, who pleaded guilty to the charge against him, was arrested Dec 29, 2022 at Tuaran area after failing to produce his identity document to the police.
He was ordered referred to the Immigration Department for his biometric data to be taken before deportation, after serving his jail sentence.
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