KOTA KINABALU – An Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant contestant has lodged a police report for sexual harassment allegedly committed by a politician.
This sparked a social media frenzy as the victim identified one Phillip Among, the technical chief of the pageant, who was alleged to have invited her for dinner after a studio filming session on May 19.
The police report was lodged at the Karamunsing police station on May 25.
Among is a member of Sabah STAR and linked to the Putatan division.
In her report, the victim claimed that she got onboard the suspect’s vehicle and while on their way to the restaurant, Among had sexually harassed her.
The victim alleged that despite rejecting the suspect’s advances, he continued to molest her after bringing the victim to his office after dinner.
The identity of the victim could not be ascertained but talks have surfaced that the victim had withdrawn her police report.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali when contacted said he has yet to receive the report from the district police station.
“Nonetheless, the police will still probe into the matter regardless of the status of the person, whether he is a VIP or not.
“No one is above the law that was created by the government,” he told reporters.
As for the alleged claim that the victim has withdrawn the report, Hazani said the authorities can charge the victim for lodging a false police report.
The Vibes had reached out to the alleged suspect but was told that he was attending a meeting.
Meanwhile, Unduk Ngadau Borderless Kaamatan chairman Joanna Kitingan declined to comment and left it to the police to do their investigations.
“As the chairperson, we did our best to organise the Unduk Ngadau this year.
“Each district coordinator also carried out their duties and this has been one of the most challenging times for us,” she said in a statement.
Sabah STAR Youth movement chief Evelyn Gobilie has also described the alleged incident as shameful and regretful.
“We wish the police will thoroughly probe into the case to ensure justice for all parties involved,” she said. – The Vibes, June 2, 2021
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