Man charged with abusing step-daughter

KOTA KINABALU: A man, charged with abuse of his eightyear-old step-daughter, will stand trial at the Sessions Court here on November 4-5 this year.

Judge Azreena Aziz fixed the hearing date for Andri Hamizi Yuan @ Antonius, 30, after he changed his guilty plea to one of not guilty when the case came up for presentation of facts and sentencing.

Andri was alleged to have abused his step-daughter at the SFI Residential in Sipitang on June 29.

The alleged offence, framed under Section 31(1)(a)of the Children Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term of up to 20 years or both, upon conviction.

Andri, who was arraigned on August 28, is currently in further custody pending disposal of his case.

Meanwhile, a mechanic, charged with robbing a man in Kuala Penyu, Beaufort last year, will know on September 27 this year whether he has a case to answer at the Sessions Court here.

Azreena set the date for the case of Carlsten Freddie Japat, 42, at the end of the prosecution stage after hearing submissions from both parties yesterday.

Carlsten was alleged to have robbed a 30-year-old man of four handphones, a tablet, a gold necklace and RM8,000 cash together with an accomplice, who is still at large, at a shop in a ‘tamu' area in Kuala Penyu, Beaufort at 2.30 am on October 17, 2018.

The charge, framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The prosecution produced six witnesses during the trial at the prosecution stage.

Carlsten is currently serving custodial sentences for his other offences.