TAWAU: A 31-year-old tourism agent who committed sexual physical harassment against a student of a higher education institution inside an e-hailing vehicle, was jailed five years and ordered to get two strokes of the cane.
Sessions Court Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya handed the sentence to Mohd Shahremy Abdul Raset who pleaded guilty, Thursday.
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Mohd Shahremy, who was also the Maxim driver, committed the offence on the 17-year-old girl by kissing her between 7.15pm and 7.22pm on Dec 9, 2023 while traveling from a resort in Balung.
The offence under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, on conviction.
The court also ordered Mohd Shahremy to undergo rehabilitation counselling while serving jail and to be placed under police supervision for two years after completing the sentence.
The court heard that the victim had booked the e-hailing service from Balung to her campus and while traveling Mohd Shahremy committed the offence.
The father of two was crying after the sentence was handed down.
Mohd Shahremy asked the court to impose a lighter sentence and to take effect from the date of his arrest three years ago (2023), saying that he had repented.
He also told the court he was the sole breadwinner for his family, as his wife was a housewife.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Haikal Hazwan Md Yatin urged the court to impose a heavy sentence given the seriousness of the offence against a very young victim, stressing that children are among the most vulnerable.
