Kota Kinabalu: A 54-year-old trader was discharged and acquitted by the Sessions Court here after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan freed Tay Chee Leong without calling for his defence.
Tay was charged with alleged sexual offences involving a 13-year-old boy in Papar on Nov 11, 2023 and Nov 11, 2021.
The first charge involved an allegation of sodomy at a hotel, while the second charge involved an allegation of asking the boy to perform an act and touching his private parts at a grocery shop.
The charges, under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Francis conducted the prosecution, while Tay was represented by counsels Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali, Nigel Neong Kaning and Sarah Chin.
