Kota Kinabalu: A 32-year-old man, who was jailed eight years and ordered two strokes of the cane for committing physical sexual harassment against a nine-year-old girl three years ago, failed in his appeal against the sentence.
High Court Judge Datuk Christopher Chin dismissed Roger Gamilus’ appeal and affirmed the decision of the lower court.
Roger, who was unrepresented, requested the imprisonment sentence be reduced and to run from the date of his arrest.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiq Agoes objected to the appeal on the grounds that six witnesses had been called to testify including the victim during the trial at the Sessions Court.
Roger was on April 21, 2021 sentenced to eight years in jail and ordered to be caned two times by the Sessions Court after he changed his plea to guilty to the charge in the midst of the trial.
He committed the offence by touching the minor’s private parts at 9pm on July 26, 2019 in a house in a village in Kundasang, Ranau.
The offence 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 Sessions Court ordered Roger to serve the jail term from the date of his conviction.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old unemployed man was charged with assaulting a man with a hammer.
However, no plea was taken from Arsyad Izzan Zainal, who appeared before Court Registrar Rita Kunsoi, after the charge was read out to him.
Arsyad was accused of causing hurt to one Raymond Siau with the weapon at 7pm on Nov 6 in a unit on the second floor of the City Mall, Jalan Lintas.
He was offered bail at RM2,000 in two sureties pending his appearance before a magistrate for his plea to be taken on Nov 17.
Deputy Public Prosecutors DK Afiqah Alya @ Tinkerbell PG Johari and Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim prosecuted.
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