Youth denies sexual assault on four kids

KOTA KINABALU: A 19-yearold youth yesterday claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to eight counts of physical sexual assault on four children.

Mohd Hafis Jarashid, who was brought before Sessions Court judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, is the second person in Sabah to be charged under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

He is alleged to have committed the offences against the children aged between nine and 14 years old at a house in a Kinarut village, Papar between 9.58 am-5.30pm on September 17-24.

He allegedly touched parts of the body of the children, which is an offence under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

Mohd Hafis allegedly committed physical sexual assault by making the children touch parts of his body, which is an offence under Section 14 (b) of the same Act. The offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years and will also be liable to whipping, upon conviction.

In view of his plea, the court fixed December 15 this year for case management and ordered the accused, who has no identity documents, to be further detained in custody, pending disposal of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Dinesh Raja appeared for the prosecution while the accused was not represented.