Man acquitted of sexual harassment charges after case dropped
KOTA KINABALU (April 21): The Sessions Court has discharged and acquitted a 34-year-old man who was accused of sexually harassing his nine-year-old niece after the alleged victim and her father decided not to pursue the case.
Judge Hurman Hussain granted the discharge and acquittal (DNA) following a request by the accused's lawyer, Mohammad Syazwan, as the family no longer wished to proceed.
The man had faced two charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail and whipping.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred in June 2023 at a house in Kampung Marakau, Ranau.
The court also ordered the refund of the bail amount paid by the accused.
Meanwhile, the High Court will determine on May 23 whether Sangdesar Bunjing, 37, will be required to enter his defence or be acquitted of a drug trafficking charge under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
High Court judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng fixed the date after the prosecution closed its case, having called five witnesses, including a chemist.
Sangdesar had pleaded not guilty to trafficking 339.1 grammes of syabu on February 12, 2024, around 12.45 am, in a Perodua Kancil car parked at the Pos Aviation warehouse parking lot near here.
If convicted, he faces the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, along with no fewer than 15 strokes of the cane.
Deputy public prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus appeared for the prosecution, while assigned counsel Jamadi Saleh represented the accused.
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