Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old man was charged with touching his sister-in-law’s private part.
The man pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to the charge against him on Wednesday.
The man is accused of committing physical sexual harassment against the 14-year-old girl between April and May 2023 at a house in a village in Ranau.
The offence was under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, upon conviction.
The court set Jan 21, 2025 for pre-trial case management and released the man on a bail of RM6,000 in two local sureties.
The man was also ordered to report to nearest police station once a month and warned to not tamper with the prosecution’s witnesses.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim asked for a new mention date.
Nurul said if the court grant bail, she suggested RM10,000 with several additional conditions to be imposed.
The man who was not represented, asked for the bail amount to be reduced as he has a wife, three small children and three siblings who are still schooling.
