Shahidan case now postponed to Feb 18

KANGAR: The case of Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who was charged with molesting a teenage girl, has been postponed to Feb 18 after he did not turn up when the case came up for mention yesterday.

Sessions court Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad set the new date to allow submission of documents as well.

She also fixed Feb 25 for the prosecution team to make their representation on the case.

Shahidan’s lead lawyer Thalia Rohana Abdul Latiff said the 67-yearold MP was suffering from an illness and is presently seeking treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Thalia was assisted by Zuhair Ahmad Zakwan and Syed Muhammad Anwar Syed Lokman while lawyer Mohd Hapiz Razali held a watching brief for the alleged victim.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail prosecuted.

Mohd Hapiz indicated the victim’s family might not want to be present during the proceedings, saying the girl was under too much pressure.

Shahidan was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for physical assault on a child by touching any part of the child’s body.

He had allegedly held the hands of the child and caressed her shoulder inside a Toyota Harrier at the open space of the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium here at 11.30pm on Oct 20 last year.

If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping and may lose his MP seat.