KOTA KINABALU: A teenager has claimed trial to charges of sodomising and molesting his 11-year-old step-sister, saying he did not know the seriousness of the offences.
The 19-year-old pleaded not guilty to both offences when charged before Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan here yesterday.
He is accused of having carnal intercourse against the order of nature on Jan 2 at a house in Menggatal near here.
This offence under Section 377C of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of between five and 20 years, with whipping, upon conviction.
He is also accused of committing physical sexual assault on her by groping her breasts 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 whipping, upon conviction.
The court set March 5 for pre-trial case management and ordered the suspect be detained following the prosecution’s objections to bail.
Deputy public prosecutor Bryan Francis strongly opposed bail, citing that the offences were serious and that both the accused and the victim lived in the same house.
If the accused was allowed bail, he could tamper with the witness, he said.
Earlier, when pleading for bail, the accused claimed that he had no idea that what he did was a serious offence.
