Kota Kinabalu: A 28-year-old farmer charged with committing physical sexual harassment against his niece, will go trial on Nov 1 and 8 this year
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus set the date for the man who maintained his plea of not guilty when his case was brought up for mention to fix the hearing date.
The man is accused of committing the offence against the five-year and two-month old girl by putting his private parts on the minor’s private parts.
The alleged incident took place between 8am and 11am on Feb 2 this year in the bedroom of a house in Kota Marudu.
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 minor, there is additional punishment for the principal, under Section 16(1) of the same Act that provides for a jail term of up to five years and whipping at least two strokes of the cane, on conviction.
The man’s bail has been extended.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tham Phou Jin appeared for the prosecution while the man was represented by counsel Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali.
