SEREMBAN: An excavator driver was sentenced to five years in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of committing physical sexual assault on a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
S. Gunah, 47, did not contest the charge after it was read to him before Sessions Court judge Surita Budin.
He was accused of committing the offence at around 4pm in a bus while travelling from Tampin to Rembau on Oct 20.
Gunah was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.
Offenders can be jailed for up to 20 years and are also liable to whipping if found guilty.
According to the statement of facts, the accused and the 16-year-old girl were travelling in the same bus when he asked to shake her hand.
The girl refused and he asked for her mobile number instead.
When she again said no, he got upset and uttered an expletive and went on to touch her inappropriately.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni asked the court to impose a sentence to reflect the severity of the offence.
She said the court needs to send a message as a deterrent to others.
The accused was also previously involved in a housebreakingcase, she said.
Gunah, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence.
He told the court he was a bachelor and had no family members.
Surita, in meting out the sentence, also ordered him to undergo counselling and to remain under police supervision for one year upon his release.
