Pakistani retailer charged with molesting 14-year-old girl

KOTA KINABALU: A Pakistani retailer was charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday with molesting a 14-year-old employee of a convenience shop.

Ahmad Imtiaz, 24, who appeared before judge Azreena Aziz, denied the charge framed under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

Ahmad was alleged to have hugged, touched the girl’s chest and rubbed his private parts against her backside at Pakhtun Khwan Enterprise in Bandar Baru Penampang at 6 pm on February 20.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Dinesh Raja objected to granting of bail to the accused. However, counsel Dato’ Sri Rakhbir Singh applied for his client to be released on RM2,000 bail citing that the accused is married to a local and has a valid passport which he tendered to the court together with a marriage document.

Meanwhile, Dinesh informed the court that the prosecution intends to call six witnesses to testify against the accused.

The court fixed May 27-28 this year for trial and released the accused on RM10,000 bail, fully deposited, in two local sureties, pending disposal of the case.

Ahmad was also ordered to personally report to the nearest police station once a month and not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and for his passport to be impounded by the court.