Kota Kinabalu: A 51-year-old trader was charged with sodomising a boy, last year.
Tay Chee Leong pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to the charge against him on Monday.
Tay is accused of committing the sexual physical harassment against the 14-year and six-month-old boy by inserting his private part into the boy’s anus.
The offence allegedly took place in the evening on Nov 11, 2023 at a hotel in Papar.
The offence, under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court set Oct 9 and released Tay on a bail of RM3,000 in a local surety as well as to report to the nearest police station once a month.
Tay was also warned not to tamper with the prosecution’s witnesses.
Earlier, counsel Hannan Razaini, who defended Tay, asked for a lower bail saying that Tay had paid RM10,000 for another charge.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim prosecuted.
