IPOH: A 61-year-old former school gardener was charged with three counts of physical sexual assault against his stepdaughter at the Sessions Court here.
Zulkefli Aizam claimed trial after the charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act were read out before Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad on Wednesday (July 15).
The accused allegedly committed the offences at various locations in Tanjung Rambutan between July 2023 and June 2024.
The victim was 14-years-old at the time of the first incident.
Lawyer Fatimawati Ismail, while pleading for a lower bail, said that the accused is divorced from the victim's mother, who relocated to Pahang and has had no contact with him.
Fatimawati said the accused is currently unemployed and has had his government pension withheld due to the pending court case.
"The accused suffers from blood clot issues and requires monthly medical treatment, rendering him unable to work.
"He sometimes struggles to afford food due to a total lack of income," she said, proposing RM5,000 in bail.
Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Raveena said the offences were non-bailable.
She, however, proposed bail be set at RM20,000 alongside additional conditions, including requiring the accused to report to a police station once a month and not to disturb the victim and prosecution witnesses.
Judge Ainul Shahrin granted bail at RM5,000 with one surety and also fixed Sept 8 for mention and document submission.
