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TAWAU: A tourist guide who is an illegal immigrant was jailed eight years and ordered to be given two strokes of the cane for sexual harassment of a 17-year-old tourist in Semporna last week.

Bara Madasah, 18, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad, to the charge against him.

Bara fondled the breasts of the tourist several times while diving in the waters of Kapalai Island at about 1.49pm, on July 3.

The offence under Section 14(a) of the Child Sexual Offences Act 2017 which provides for a jail term of up  to 20 years and whipping, if convicted.

The court ordered Bars to serve the sentence  from the date of his arrest which was on July 4 and to be referred to the  Immigration Department for deportation after completing sentence.

According to the facts of the case, the victim and her family from Klang, Selangor, used the services of Windia Travel and Tour for vacation and travel to several islands and resorts in Semporna.

However, while doing diving activities (snorkeling) in the waters of Kapalai Island, Bara sexually assaulted the victim by fondling her breast several times.

The victim reprimanded Bara, but he continued the offence and the action was recorded in the video of the waterproof camera that the victim was carrying during the incident.

The victim informed her family members about the incident and lodged a police report against Bara.

Earlier, Prosecuting Officer, ASP Nur Intan Jamrin asked the court to impose a heavy sentence on Bara as to give him a lesson, considering that the offence was serious and involved public interest.