Kota Kinabalu: A 52-year-old self-employed charged with committing physical sexual harassment against his daughter, was granted bail of RM15,000 with two local sureties.
Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim allowed bail for the man when his case was brought up for bail application, Wednesday.
The court also imposed several conditions including the man cannot get near, tamper, or communicate in any form with any of the prosecution witnesses, especially the alleged victim.
The man was also ordered to report to the Tuaran police station every first and third week of Friday of the month.
His passports must be impounded and kept by the court and if he needs the passport, the man should apply for the temporary return.
The man would be further detained under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code should he failed to furnish the bail sum and failure to adhere to any of the conditions would result in his bail being revoked. The court set Jan 26 for mention the status of the medical report.
The man is accused of committing the offence against the 12-year-old girl by fondling and licking her breasts at 3.30pm on Oct 3 this year at a room of a house in Kepayan, 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.
Due to the man’s relation with the alleged victim, there will be additional punishment under Section 16(2)(c) of the same Act carries a jail term of up to five years, and whipping at least two strokes, on conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Dacia Jane Romanus appeared for the prosecution while the man was represented by counsel Arthur Borine.
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