Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old man claimed trial to committing physical sexual harassment against his daughter.
The man made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain, after the charge was read to him.
The man is accused of committing the crime against the 13-year-old daughter by fondling her breasts, kissing her and inserting his finger into the girl’s private parts between 10.30am and 11.15am on April 23 this year at a house in Putatan.
The offence under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017 provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, on conviction.
Due the relationship with the girl, the accused faces 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.
The court set July 1 for pre-trial case management and ordered the man remanded further pending the disposal of his case.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Francis objected to bail on the grounds that the man and his daughter are living in the same house in which there is high possibility of the man tampering with the prosecution witnesses especially the alleged victim.
The man, who was not represented, did not say anything.
In another case, a 30-year-old woman was fined RM5,000, or jailed six months for allowing an illegal immigrant to stay in a premises under her control.
Effazera Kohadie pleaded guilty to permitting a 52-year-old paperless Filipina to stay at the Khidmat Terbilang Enterprise premises in Kg Sinisian, Kundasang, Ranau.
Effazera, who was the owner of the premises, committed the offence at 2pm on April 22 this year.
Immigration Department Prosecuting Officer Norizan Awang Tanda prosecuted the case.
