IPOH: A 61-year-old man has claimed trial to three counts of physical sexual assault on his stepdaughter.
The former school gardener pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad yesterday.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at various locations in Tanjung Rambutan between July 2023 and June 2024.
The charges were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.
The stepdaughter was 14 years old at the time of the first alleged incident.
While pleading for a lower bail, lawyer Fatimawati Ismail said her client is divorced from the girl’s mother, who has relocated to Pahang.
Fatimawati said the accused is currently unemployed and had his government pension withheld due to the ongoing court case.
“He suffers from blood clot issues and requires monthly medical treatment, rendering him unable to work,” she said.
Deputy public prosecutor M. Raveena said the offences were non-bailable.
However, Raveena proposed bail be set at RM20,000 alongside conditions, including requiring the accused to report to a police station once a month and a strict no-contact order involving the victim and prosecution witnesses.
The court granted bail at RM5,000 in one surety and fixed Sept 8 for next mention.
In an unrelated case in the same court, a 25-year-old practical teacher claimed trial to six counts of physical sexual assault on a 14-year-old pupil.
The offences are said to have occurred at a house in Persiaran Guntong, Kampung Chakadi here on July 5.
Ainul Shahrin set bail at RM10,000 for all charges and fixed Aug 20 for next mention.
