KANGAR: Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has been given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Sessions Court here for the alleged molest of an underage girl.
The decision to discharge Shahidan was delivered in chambers by Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad after the victim retracted her report.
The court heard the testimony of three witnesses, including the complainant, before coming to a decision.
Shahidan's lawyer Zamri Ibrahim said since the complainant had withdrawn the case after testifying, the case would now be withdrawn and the bail returned.
Shahidan was charged with sexually assaulting the girl, then aged 15 years and seven months, by holding her shoulder and her left hand in a vehicle at the compound of Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium at about 11.30pm on Oct 20 last year.
The former minister was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping if convicted.
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