Kota Kinabalu: An 18-year-old youth claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to a charge of physically and sexually abusing his younger sister.
The unrepresented teenager pleaded not guilty before Judge Zaini Fishir to committing the offence against the girl by touching her private parts and breasts at a house in Inanam in February this year.
Framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, the charge provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir objected to bail on grounds that the complainant was the accused's biological sister and that there was a risk of witness tampering.
The court granted the accused bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties, ordered him to report to the nearest police station monthly, barred him from communicating with prosecution witnesses or staying with the alleged victim, and fixed Nov 2 for case mention.
