GEORGE TOWN: A Myanmar national was charged in the Sessions Court here on Wednesday (Aug 26) with sexually assaulting a three-year-old Australian boy last week.
Aung Phyo Win, 30, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him in Bahasa Malaysia before Sessions Court Judge Juraidah Abbas.
The hotel worker was charged with committing physical sexual assault on the toddler at a hawker stall along Lorong Baharu at about 9.10pm on Aug 20.
Aung Phyo was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Anuarul Hakim Abdul Muen appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer K. Mahendran.
The prosecution did not offer bail.
Defense counsel Mahendran urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the accused has been married, residing in Malaysia for four years, and maintains steady employment at a hotel.
"He has a permanent job at a hotel. His passport has been surrendered to the police and the possibility of him absconding is very low. I ask the court to grant bail," Mahendran said.
DPP Anuarul objected to the application, contending that surrendering the passport did not guarantee its legal validity.
"Although the accused's passport has been surrendered to the police, the court has yet to receive any document confirming that the passport is valid. Therefore, the prosecution requests that the court deny bail," he said.
Judge Juraidah denied bail and fixed Sept 28 for case mention.
