Kota Kinabalu: A teenager charged with two counts of sodomising his stepsister and abusing her sexually said he was not aware what he did was serious.
The 19-year-old who pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, said this when given opportunity to say something regarding bail.
He apologised for his wrongdoing.
On the first count, he is accused of sodomising the 11-year and four-month-old girl at 9am on Jan 2 this year at a house in Manggatal.
The offence under Section 377C of the Penal Code carries a jail between five and 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
On the second count, he allegedly fondled the girl’s breasts on Jan 4 this year at 9am at the same place.
For the offence, he was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court set March 5 for pre-trial case management and ordered the teenager to be remanded further following the objection by the prosecution.
Asked by the court whether his family knew about his case, he said he did not know.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Francis objected to bail the teenager on the grounds that they were non-bailable and serious offences.
He also submitted that the teenager and the alleged victim are related and are staying in the same house and that he may tamper with the witness.
