Phillip Among claims trial to five charges of outraging modesty of two women

KOTA KINABALU: Politician Phillip Among pleaded not guilty to five charges of criminal force to outrage the modesty of two women at the Magistrates Court here, Thursday (June 10).

Among - who was represented by counsel Marcel Jude - pleaded not guilty to five charges read before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun.

According to the charge sheets, Among is accused of using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman at an inn at 11pm on April 17.

He is also accused of committing the same offence on a second person at 3.30pm, 2pm, 9.45pm and 10pm on May 19, at different locations.

He was granted RM8, 000 bail for each charge with two local sureties and the court fixed July 14, 21 and 22, for pre-trial case management.

The court instructed the passport of the accused to be impounded by the prosecution, for the accused to report to the police station once a month.

Among is also prohibited from speaking to the victims or any witnesses until the disposal of the case.

On Tuesday (June 8), police said they had completed their investigations into the case and would hand over the investigation papers to the Attorney General's office here for further action.

An Unduk Ngadau contestant had claimed in her May 21 police report that the politician groped her inside his car on May 19 after a photoshoot in Asia City here.

Among was the technical director for the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) pageant in the recent state-level Pesta Kaamatan celebrations.

On June 3, Among called a press conference at his office in Asia City where he denied the allegations and said that he was suing the contestant.

He was arrested by police shortly after the press conference.

Police have also recorded a statement from his employee, Australian Dane Lenard Kovacs, who claimed that his passport had been illegally held back by Among.

Sabah STAR has also suspended Among, who was its Putatan parliament coordinator.