Man claims trial to sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl in Ranau

KOTA KINABALU (March 2): A 22-year-old man has claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to a charge of committing physical sexual assault against a minor.

The man, who appeared before Judge Hurman Hussain, is accused of touching the victim’s stomach and private parts for sexual purposes at an unnumbered house in Ranau at 11pm in November 2024.

The girl was 15 years old at the time of the offence.

The man, who was unrepresented, was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and caning upon conviction.

Hurman set pre-trial case management for April 2.

He released the accused on RM3,000 bail with his parents as sureties.

The court also ordered the man to report to the nearest police station once a month, not to disturb any of the prosecution’s witnesses, and to surrender his passport, if any, to the court.

Deputy public prosecutor Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir appeared for the prosecution.