Man denies inserting finger into girl’s private parts By Safrah Mat Salleh

KOTA KINABALU: A 32-year-old man claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to inserting his finger into his stepdaughter’s private parts.

The man, who was brought before judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, was alleged to have committed the offence against the 15-year-old girl in a room of an unnumbered house in a village in Penampang at 11pm on January 26.

The alleged offence under Section 377CA of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 30 years and also liable to whipping, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Afendi offered RM10,000 bail to the accused.

However, counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin, who represented the accused, requested for a lower sum on the grounds that his client who worked as a despatch boy only earned about RM1,100 per month.

Azhier also informed the court that the alleged victim is currently staying with her uncle in Penampang.

The court fixed June 17-19 this year for trial and released the accused on RM10,000 bail in two local sureties and to report himself to the Kinarut police station every Friday.

The accused was also ordered not to tamper with any of the prosecution witnesses and failure to comply with the conditions will result in the revocation of the bail.