Retiree Charged with Physical Sexual Assault, Criminal Force Against Two Children
KANGAR: A government retiree pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to three charges involving physical sexual assault and the use of criminal force against two young girls in August.
Annuar Abdullah, 72, entered the plea after all three charges were read to him before Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid.
According to the first and second charges, he allegedly committed physical sexual assault against an 11-year-old girl at a house in Jalan Utama here at 6.30 pm on August 11.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
For the third charge, he allegedly used criminal force against a 10-year-old girl with the intention of outraging her modesty at the same location, time and date.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, whipping, or any two of these punishments upon conviction.
The court granted the accused bail of RM10,000 with one surety, subject to the additional condition that he report to the nearest police station every month.
He was also ordered not to interfere with the victims or prosecution witnesses until the case is concluded.
The court fixed November 24 for the next case mention.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Alif Farhan Hassan, while the accused was represented by lawyers Zuhair Ahmad Zakuan and Mohamad Alif Farhan Mohamad Supian.
BERNAMA