KOTA KINABALU: A politician has been ordered by a Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (Dec 12) to enter his defence on four charges of molesting a former beauty pageant contestant.
Philip Among, who has been suspended from Sabah STAR, was instructed by Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to enter his defence on Feb 19, 22 and 23 next year
Abbie issued the order after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the 53-year-old accused.
Among, who was wearing a dark-coloured jacket over a light blue shirt, did not react when the judge delivered the verdict.
On the charges, he was accused of molesting a former Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant contestant four times at different locations between 2pm and 10pm on May 19, 2021.
He was accused of committing the offences at Studio Darvel Bay Borneo Holidays in Asia City here as well as inside a moving car that was travelling from a restaurant towards an office in the city.
Among also allegedly molested the woman at a staircase next to Ever Best Photo in Asia City and in an office in Metro Town in Kolombong near here.
The former Sabah STAR Putatan Parliamentary coordinator faces a maximum jail sentence of 10 years, a fine, whipping or a combination of any two such punishments if found guilty of the offence under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Section 354 makes it an offence to use force with the intent to outrage a person’s modesty.
Among had pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 21, 2021.
The prosecution closed its case on Sept 7, 2023 after calling eight witnesses to testify.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Siti Hajar Mazlan handled the trial while Among was represented by counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah and Mohd Azhier Farhan.
DPP Batrisyia Mohd Khusri appeared for the prosecution during the proceeding on Tuesday.
On Oct 31, Among was also ordered by another Magistrate’s Court to enter defence for molesting another woman in the living room of the Jesselton Capsule Inn in Asia City.
He was accused of committing the offence at 11pm on April 17, 2021.
Among was then a technical head for the 2021 state-level Unduk Ngadau competition, a cultural event which brings all the beauties who won at the district level for the culmination of Sabah’s Harvest Festival, or Kaamatan.
The accused was suspended by Sabah STAR from his position after two police reports were lodged against him over allegations of sexual assault.
