MELAKA: A 28-year-old mechanic claimed trial at the Sessions Court in Ayer Keroh here to a charge of sexually abusing a young girl.
The accused entered the plea after the charge was read out before judge Haderiah Siri yesterday.
According to the charge, the 11-year-old victim is the foster child of the accused’s mother.
The offence was allegedly committed at an address located in Batu 5, Batang Tiga, Tanjung Kling, here at 7am in February last year.
The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Wan Abdullah Wan Rodzlah requested that bail be set at RM20,000, with the condition that the accused must not disturb the victim or witnesses, report to the nearest police station once a month and surrender his international passport.
Lawyer Umar Zulkarnain, representing the accused, appealed for a lower bail amount for his client.
The court later granted the accused bail of RM8,000 with one surety and imposed the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
The case is fixed for mention on June 9.
