Kota Kinabalu: A 70-year-old former lecturer who was charged with committing sexual abuse against his eight-year-old step-granddaughter, faced another charge of committing a similar offence against another step-granddaughter.
The man pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz to the charge against him after the charge was read to him on Tuesday.
He is accused of committing the offence against the 14-year-old girl between 2017 and 2019 in a house in Putatan.
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.
Due to the relationship between the man and 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.
The court set Apr 28 for case management and Sept 9–10 this year for hearing of the case.
Pending the date, the man was released on a bail of RM10,000 with RM5,000 deposited in two local sureties with a permanent address and job.
The court also ordered the man to report to the nearest police station once a week and that his passport, if any, to be impounded by the court pending the disposal of his case.
About seven witnesses would be called for the hearing.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nureen Natasha Mohd Raffie objected to bail the man on the grounds that they are relatives.
However, counsel Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali who defended the man, asked for bail to be granted saying that his client is suffering from asthma, high blood pressure and gout.
According to Mohamad Syazwan, the man is a former lecturer while his wife, a former Magistrate.
On March 11 this year, the man claimed trial to the previous charge against him.
