A 41-Year-Old technician has pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to seven charges of physically sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter over a three-year period.
The accused entered the plea after all seven charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason on Friday.
According to the charge sheets, the accused allegedly committed acts of physical sexual assault against the victim from the time she was 10 years old while she was under his care and protection as her stepfather, placing him in a position of trust.
The offences were allegedly committed at a house in Bandar Universiti, Seri Iskandar, in the Perak Tengah district on various dates in May 2023, May 2024 and April 2025.
Six of the charges were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), while the remaining charge was brought under Section 14(d), read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, the accused faces up to 20 years' imprisonment and may also be sentenced to whipping. The court may impose an enhanced sentence if it finds the offences involved an abuse of a relationship of trust.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin proposed bail of RM30,000 and requested additional conditions requiring the accused to report to a police station at the beginning of every month and refrain from contacting or disturbing the alleged victim throughout the proceedings.
Defence counsel Aliff Aiman Rusli sought a lower bail of RM5,000, telling the court that his client had suffered a minor stroke, was supporting his 70-year-old mother and unemployed wife, had no previous criminal record and had voluntarily surrendered to assist police investigations.
The court granted bail of RM9,000 with one local surety who must not be a family member.
The accused was also ordered to report to a police station at the beginning of every month until the case is concluded and was prohibited from approaching, contacting or harassing the alleged victim, her mother, family members or any prosecution witnesses by any means.
The case has been fixed for further mention on Sept 17 for the submission of case documents. -August 7, 2026
