A 40-year-old air conditioning technician pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to a charge of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter on the balcony of their residence in Cheras last month.
The alleged incident took place in the early hours of April 8, where the man is accused of engaging in unnatural sexual acts with the young girl, who was reportedly nine years and ten months old at the time. The charge, filed under Section 377C of the Penal Code in conjunction with Section 16(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carries a sentence of no less than five years and up to 30 years in prison, along with the possibility of caning, if the accused is found guilty.
During the court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Faizah Khalilah Zaberi strongly opposed granting bail. It was argued that the accused, being married to the victim's mother, could pose a risk of interference with witnesses or the victim herself. The seriousness of the offence, involving sexual abuse against a child, was emphasized in the prosecution’s appeal for the accused to be remanded.
In response, the accused’s lawyer, Charanpal Singh, urged the court to consider bail due to the man’s role as the sole financial provider for his family. It was highlighted that he is responsible for four children aged between seven and 14, including one son with a heart condition who requires regular medical care. Singh noted that the accused plays a vital role in transporting his children to school and managing household responsibilities, and suggested that the court could impose additional conditions should bail be approved.
Despite the defense's appeal, Judge Zulqarnain Hassan ruled against bail, taking into account the nature of the accusations and the risk of the accused contacting the victim or other witnesses. The court then fixed June 17 as the next mention date for the case.
The proceedings have drawn attention due to the sensitive nature of the case, which involves allegations of child sexual abuse within a domestic setting. While the accused has maintained his innocence, the legal process will continue as the court prepares to examine the evidence in greater detail.
Information Source: Astro Awani
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