By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Dec 28: An ex-soldier has pleaded not guilty to the charge of physical and sexual assault against an 11-year-old girl.
Joeng Melos, 63, pleaded not guilty to the charge framed before Sessions Court Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman.
Judge Afidah allowed the accused to be released on RM5,000 bail with two local sureties.
Case management of the case is set on Jan 31.
Joeng allegedly asked the 11-year-old victim to touch his private part in the kitchen of a house in Bau, at about 11am on December 21, 2022.
He was charged under Section 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years and with whipping, upon conviction.
According to the brief facts of the case, the victim’s mother lodged the police report after the victim told her about the incident.
The victim’s mother is the accused’s acquaintance.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Aiman Mutalib Mohamad Shariff prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsel Osman Ibrahim. – DayakDaily
