SEREMBAN: A 47-year-old excavator driver has been sentenced to five years' jail after pleading guilty to committing physical sexual assault on a secondary schoolgirl.
S. Gunah did not contest the charge after it was read to him before Sessions judge Surita Budin here on Friday (Oct 24).
He was charged with committing the offence at around 4pm in a bus from Tampin to Rembau on Monday (Oct 20).
Gunah was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Offenders can be jailed for up to 20 years with caning if found guilty.
According to the facts of the case, the accused and the 16-year-old victim were on the same bus when he asked to shake her hand.
When she refused, he asked for her mobile number.
When she said no again, he became upset, uttered an expletive and touched her inappropriately.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni asked the court to impose a commensurate sentence as it was a serious offence against a minor, and a message had to be sent.
She said the accused was also previously involved in a housebreaking case.
Gunah who was unrepresented pleaded for a lenient sentence as he was a bachelor and had no family.
