Kota Kinabalu: A 22-year-old man was ordered to enter his defence on a charge of committing sexual abuse against his step-sister.
Sessions Court Judge Ummu Khaltom Abdul Samad made the order for the man during the ruling of his case at the end of the prosecution stage on Monday.
The court held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the man and ordered him to enter his defence.
The man’s defence had been fixed on June 9 this year.
The man is accused of committing the offence by asking the 12-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him at 7.24pm on Apr 12, 2019 at a bedroom of a house in Pulau Gaya, near here.
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 prosecution had called six witnesses in the hearing.
Deputy Public prosecutor Nur Shafiqah Suleiman conducted the prosecution while the man was not represented.
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