KANGAR: A government retiree pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here Monday (Oct 26) to three charges of committing physical sexual assault and criminal force against two girls about two months ago.
Annuar Abdullah, 72, entered the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid.
The first two charges alleged that Annuar committed physical sexual assault for sexual purposes against an 11-year-and-five-month-old girl at a house at No. 7, Lorong 4, Jalan Utama here, at 6.30pm on Aug 11.
The third charge alleges that he used criminal force against a 10-year-and-11-month-old girl by pulling both her legs with the intention of outraging her modesty, at the same place, time and date.
The first two charges were brought under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The third charge, under Section 354 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, a fine, whipping, or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.
The court granted Annuar bail of RM10,000 with one surety and ordered him to report to a nearby police station on the first day of every month.
He was also prohibited from approaching or disturbing the victims and prosecution witnesses until the disposal of the case.
The court fixed Nov 24 for mention for submission of relevant documents.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Alif Farhan Hassan prosecuted, while Annuar was represented by lawyers Zuhair Ahmad Zakuan and Mohamad Alif Farhan Mohamad Supian. - Bernama
