Kota Kinabalu: A witness told the court that the State Unduk Ngadau (UN) finalist who was allegedly molested by the beauty contest’s technical head, was nervous and shaking when they fetched her from a hotel.
Frandy, 30, said when the alleged victim entered the car, she hugged two female friends, Evianne and Citeer. According to Frandy, the alleged victim was shaking and really nervous at that time. He informed the court that on May 19, 2021 at 10.40pm, they arrived at the hotel after the alleged victim asked them to fetch her and help bring down her things from the hotel room.
“After she gave me the room number, I went up and took her things and she followed me to the car. When I arrived at the room, the alleged victim was in a nervous state. After that, we brought the alleged victim to a hotel in Likas. She together with Evianne and Citeer stayed in one room while me and another friend Jerome, who together with us fetched the alleged victim, stayed in another room but in the same hotel,” said Frandy.
Frandy testified before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie, as the fifth witness in the hearing of Philip Among, 52, who was charged with four counts of molesting the 22-year-old contestant on May 19, 2021 at 2pm, 3.30pm, 9.45pm and 10pm, respectively at a staircase next Ever Best Photo in Asia City, in Studio Darvel Bay Borneo Holidays Sdn Bhd in Asia City, in a moving vehicle while on the way from a dinner place to an old office in the city and in an office in Metro Town.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 10 years, or with fine or with whipping or with any two of such punishments, on conviction. Philip had on June 10, 2021 claimed trial to the charges.
Frandy, who was the 2021 district UN Media and Promotion Chief, said the next morning while they were having breakfast, he asked the alleged victim what had happened.
“The alleged victim briefed me about the incident where she was allegedly touched at the back by Philip during a photo shoot session at Ever Best Photo, being touched on her thigh after dinner and also at Philip’s office in Metro Town as well as while in Philip’s vehicle.
“After hearing her story, I then called up the district UN Chairperson Alice and informed her about the incident. I also asked Alice whether a police report should be lodged. After we discussed, the alleged victim agreed to lodge a report for her safety. On May 21, 2021, we accompany the alleged victim to the Karamusing police station,” he said.
To a question by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan, Frandy said the alleged victim was shaking and speaking nervously while telling the story.
Meanwhile, during cross-examination by counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah, Frandy agreed that there was no handphone number or name written on the screenshot of the WhatsApp conversation between him and the alleged victim. Frandy also informed that he did not remember the alleged victim’s handphone number. He also agreed that based on the screen shot of the WhatsApp conversation between him and the alleged victim, that there was no conversation that she was ‘touched’ by Philip. The trial started on April 12, last year and the prosecution had called five witnesses so far. The trial will continue on March 29.
