SEREMBAN: A 56-year-old man claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to committing physical sexual assault on his granddaughter when she was nearly seven on Friday (Dec 19).
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Surita Budin.
He was charged with committing the offence between 3pm and 5pm at an unnumbered house in Bahau on March 20, 2025.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni told the court the prosecution was not offering the accused bail as the victim was her paternal granddaughter.
"The accused also has a previous conviction for sexual assault, where he was ordered to serve four years in jail.
"If he is allowed bail, he may contact or harass the victim and potential witnesses," she said.
The accused pleaded for a low bail, saying that he was unemployed and lived with one of his daughters.
When judge Surita asked the accused who would be bailing him, a relative who was seated in the public gallery stood up and told the court that the victim's mother had withdrawn the police report of the alleged assault on Wednesday.
When Surita asked if the mother was present in court, the relative said she wasn't.
The judge then asked Norazihah if she had a copy of the report to which the DPP said she did not.
Surita then fixed Dec 23 for the next hearing and ordered the victim's mother to be present in court with the report.
She also denied the accused bail.
