SEREMBAN: A 43-year-old lorry attendant, V. Poopathi, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a charge of making an offensive and obscene gesture towards his 10-year-old neighbour.
Poopathi claimed trial after the charge was read to him before Judge Surita Budin. The alleged offence occurred around 11.55pm on Jan 4 at a house in Gemas.
The charge falls under Section 15(a)(i) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi refused to offer bail after the court was informed that none of Poopathi's family members or relatives were present to post bail.
Unrepresented, Poopathi told the court that he was a bachelor and only had a surviving brother.
The court did not grant bail and ordered the case to be rementioned on Feb 17.
