KOTA KINABALU: A teenager has claimed trial to sexually abusing and molesting his 11-year-old stepsister, maintaining that he did not know they were serious offences.
The 19-year-old pleaded not guilty when he was charged before Sessions judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan here on Friday (Feb 6).
For the first charge, he was accused of having carnal intercourse against the order of nature at around 9am on Jan 2 in a house in Menggatal near here.
The offence under Section 377C of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of between five and 20 years, with caning, upon conviction.
For the second offence, he was accused of committing physical sexual assault on the girl by grobbing her breasts at around 9am on Jan 4, at the same location.
This charge, under Section 14(a) Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, with caning, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Bryan Francis objected strongly to bail on the grounds that the offences were serious, and both the accused and the victim lived in the same house.
When pleading for bail, the accused said: "I honestly did not know this is a serious crime," and apologised.
The court set March 5 for pre-trial case management and ordered the accused to be detained following objections to bail from the prosecution.
