By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Oct 17: A 35-year-old man was arrested in Marina ParkCity here on Oct 16 for allegedly offering money to a 16-year-old schoolgirl in exchange for sex after approaching her while she was walking home from school.
In a statement, Miri district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said police received a report at 3.20pm on Oct 15 regarding the incident, which allegedly occurred at about 1.15pm the same day in Desa Pujut.
He said the suspect was driving a vehicle and was partially naked, with his genitals exposed, when he approached the victim and offered her money in exchange for sexual intercourse.
The girl managed to escape by running to a nearby acquaintance’s house before subsequently lodging a police report with her family.
Following investigations and information provided by members of the public, a team from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Miri District Police Headquarters arrested the suspect at about 2pm on Oct 16.
Police also seized the suspect’s mobile phone and the vehicle allegedly used during the incident.
The suspect, a local man with one previous criminal record, has been remanded for three days until Oct 20 to facilitate further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 15(a)(i) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. If convicted, the suspect faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both.
Mohd Farhan urged anyone who may have been victimised by the suspect through a similar modus operandi to come forward and lodge a police report. — DayakDaily
