By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 12: A 43-year-old man with learning disabilities, who has been charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy with similar disabilities, has been ordered to undergo a one-month observation period at Sentosa Hospital.
The order was issued by Sessions Court Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman following a request by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff.
During the proceedings, the court was informed that the accused is believed to be mentally unstable and suffers from learning difficulties. Citing Section 342(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), the prosecution sought a psychiatric evaluation to assess the accused’s mental state.
Judge Afidah granted the application and scheduled the next mention of the case for April 14, 2025.
Earlier in the hearing, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and might also be subject to caning.
According to the charges, the accused allegedly committed the physical sexual assault on the victim, who is the child of a friend, by hugging the boy with sexual intent. The incident reportedly occurred around 8am on March 2, 2025, at a residence in Siburan.
The accused, who was unrepresented by legal counsel during the proceedings, will remain under observation at Sentosa Hospital for the next month as part of the court’s directive. Further developments in the case are expected to be addressed during the next court session. – DayakDaily
