IPOH: A badminton coach with a mental disability was slapped with two counts of committing physical sexual offences against a teenage boy at a house here.
He claimed trial to the charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act before Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason on Wednesday (Feb 12).
For the first charge, he was said to have sexually assaulted the 16-year-old victim in a room at a house here at about 7.15pm on Jan 20.
In the second charge, the accused was alleged to have committed the same offence at the same location at about 2.30am on Jan 21.
If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 20 years and whipped.
He could also be put under police surveillance for up to three years as soon as his sentence ends.
When pleading for a lower bail, the accused, who was unrepresented, said he was a divorcee but had two children, ages one and two, and two parents to care for.
"I only earn about RM700 a month and receive RM450 from the social welfare department.
"I send RM500 to my (ex) wife, who works as a clerk in Kedah, as alimony," he told the court.
The accused added that he had been admitted to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta (HBUK) three times for his mental disability.
"I have not taken my medicines for about a month, so I hope for a lower bail amount," he requested.
Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu'aini Khalifah had earlier proposed to the court to set bail at RM20,000, and for the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and to stay away from the victim.
Jean Sharmila ordered the accused to be sent to HBUK for evaluation before setting the bail amount.
She also set March 12 for mention.
