Kota Kinabalu: A 51-year-old man was charged with committing physical sexual harassment against his daughter, last year.
The man who was brought before Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim, pleaded guilty to the charge against him on Tuesday.
However, the man’s sentencing was deferred to June 5 this year and the court ordered the man to be remanded further pending the date during which facts of the case would be read.
He is accused of committing the offence against the 13-year-old girl by touching her private parts at 7pm on Dec 18, 2024 at a house in a village in Menumbok, Beaufort.
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 the relationship with the girl, there is additional punishment under Section 16(1) of the SOACA which carries a jail term of up to five years and whipping of at least two strokes.
Earlier, the prosecution objected to bail saying that the man and the girl were staying in the same roof but if the court granted bail, the prosecution proposed RM10,000 in two local sureties as well as report to police station once a month.
The man asked for bail but the court did not grant it.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiqah Alya appeared for the prosecution while the man was not represented.
