Man charged with touching girl’s back

KOTA KINABALU: A 41-year-old man claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to a charge of touching the back part of a girl’s body.

Usup Abd Hamid, who was brought before judge Egusra Ali was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

The charge carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

He allegedly committed the offence against the girl aged 13 years and 10 months in a bedroom at a house in Jalan Sepanggar here at 6.45am on December 9.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali objected to bail and applied for the accused to be further detained in custody, pending disposal of the case.

She said the accused was charged with a serious and nonbailable offence and to prevent the accused from tampering with the girl and the prosecution witnesses.

Meanwhile, Usup, who was not represented, did not say anything against the application.

The court fixed January 28 next year for pre-trial case management and ordered for the accused to be further detained in custody under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

At another courtroom, Usup was also charged with consuming syabu.

No plea was taken from him for the charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a jail term up to two years, upon conviction.

Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim set January 16 next year for a re-mention, pending his (Usup’s) chemistry report. prosecution’s