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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): A 35-year-old local man was charged in the Kuala Belait Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (March 22) for outraging the modesty of his 11-year-old stepdaughter.
However, the court did not record the defendant’s plea due to the prosecution saying the case still needs further investigation.
The defendant allegedly grabbed his stepdaughter’s hand and forced her to touch his private parts at their house in Belait District in December last year.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Fitri Kiprawi informed the court that police investigations are in the early stages as the defendant was only arrested on Monday night.
Acting Senior Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati Abdul Hamid ordered the defendant remanded for one week to facilitate investigations and adjourned the case to March 29.
The defendant faces a charge where if found guilty, carries the penalty of three to 10 years’ imprisonment with mandatory whipping.
