Aussie part-timer gives statement against his boss in Unduk Ngadau molest case

KOTA KINABALU: A part-time employee of the politician accused of molesting an Unduk Ngadau contestant has given his statement to police.

Australian Dane Lenard Kovacs, accompanied by his lawyer Mohd Syazwan Shah, turned up at the state police headquarters in Kepayan here on Tuesday (June 8) morning to help police in their investigations into Phillip Among, a 52-year-old senior leader of Sabah STAR.

"He (Kovacs) has given his statement to the investigating officer," Mohd Syazwan said when contacted later.

The Australian, who was employed for two months by Among, had levelled accusations against the politician in a 40-minute video claiming that he made disparaging and lewd remarks about women.

Mohd Syazwan said police were also investigating the politician for allegedly holding back Kovacs' passport, which was given to him for his work pass.

Among was arrested on June 3 in connection with a police report lodged on May 21 by a contestant of the traditional beauty pageant who claimed that he had groped her inside his car after a photo shoot in Asia City here on May 19.

In a statement released after he met the police, Kovacs said he did not witness the alleged incident but reiterated his claims in the video that Among behaved inappropriately around women.

In his statement to the media, Kovacs said the contestant had come to take pictures at the studio when Among turned up and joined in the photo shoot.

"The contestant was shy and timid in nature and appeared awkward and uncomfortable posing for the shoot.

"She claimed that she didn't have any experience modelling or posing so I began giving her verbal instructions on different poses she could try.

"Among walked up to her and without asking for her consent, placed his hands on her body, and instructed her to pose for the shoot," Kovacs claimed.

He also said that Among frequently referred to the contestant as his girlfriend during and after the shoot.

Kovacs had been working for a tour company in Sabah since 2013 but lost his job recently and was hired by Among two months ago.

Among, who was head of the Unduk Ngadau technical team, has been remanded for eight days since June 4.

Prior to his arrest, he denied all accusations against him in connection with the police report.