Philip Amiong
KOTA KINABALU: Suspended Sabah STAR leader Phillip Among (pic) was sentenced to a total of 43 months’ imprisonment and fined RM14,000 after being found guilty on four counts of molesting an Unduk Ngadau contestant.
Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin handed down the sentence, ruling that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case.
Phillip, 53, committed the offences while serving as the technical head of the 2021 Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, held in conjunction with the state-level Pesta Kaamatan celebrations.
At the time, he was also the Sabah STAR parliamentary coordinator for the Putatan Division.
Police reports were lodged against him in June 2021 by a contestant alleging sexual assault, following which he was suspended from his party position.
Phillip was first charged on June 10, 2021, under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, whipping or any combination thereof upon conviction.
He faced four counts of molestation that occurred between 2pm and 10pm on May 19, 2021, at multiple locations, including inside a moving car from a dinner venue, on a stairway next to a photo studio in Asia City here, and in an office in Metro Town.
The trial began in April 2022, with the court ordering Phillip to enter his defence on Dec 12, 2024.
In a separate case, the politician was sentenced on Dec 19, 2025, to eight months’ imprisonment and fined RM5,000 for molesting an 18-year-old.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus ordered an additional four months’ jail if he fails to pay the fine. The offence occurred around 11pm on April 17, 2021, in the living room of a capsule hotel in Asia City.
Phillip has appealed the conviction and remains on bail pending the High Court hearing.
