Policemen escorting the suspect to a police car.
KOTA KINABALU: A man was arrested in less than 24 hours after allegedly molesting his 20-year-old niece in Sabah's east coast Tawau district.
The 57-year-old suspect was detained at an unmarked house at Kampung Sri Bombalai Laut, Sungai Imam, at about 9pm on Tuesday (Jan 9).
Tawau police chief Asst Comm Jasmin Hussin said the incident allegedly occurred while the victim was in her room at about 11pm the previous day, Monday (Jan 8).
He said the suspect had entered her room and warned the woman not to make any noise before proceeding to touch her private parts.
"The victim then screamed and caused the suspect to scramble out of her room," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 10).
He added the woman subsequently lodged a report at 4.08pm on Tuesday.
Acting on a tip-off, ACP Jasmin said a team of policemen tracked down the man and found him at the unnumbered house in the village.
"The suspect has been brought to the Tawau police headquarters for further investigation under Section 354 of the Penal Code for using force with the intention to outrage a person's modesty," he said.
He added that the suspect faced up to 10 years in jail and caning if found guilty.
