Shahidan claims trial to molesting girl
> Ex-Perlis MB granted RM25,000 bail in two sureties
KANGAR: Former Cabinet minister and ex-Perlis Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim pleaded not guilty in the sessions court to molesting an underage girl near the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium Complex in the state capital.
The former three-term mentri besar, who is Arau MP, said he was not guilty when the charge was read out to him before Justice Johari Hassan, who granted Shahidan bail of RM25,000 in two sureties.
He was allowed to keep his passport as he had just returned from performing the umrah at Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Shahidan, who had earlier suffered a health scare, was seen walking to the court room with a walking stick accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Shamsiah Mohd Yassin and relatives.
His younger brother, Datuk Ismail Kassim, who is the Tambun Tulang assemblyman was not present.
Ismail hogged the limelight when he quit Umno after his application to become the next mentri besar following the May 9 general election was rejected by the palace.
Meanwhile, in Alor Setar, Kedah Umno was left with just two women representatives in the august House when Guar Chempedak assemblyman Datuk Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail notified the Kedah state assembly Speaker Datuk Ahmad Kassim of his intention to quit Barisan Nasional and become an Independent backbencher.