KUCHING: The Sessions Court here released and acquitted a 50-year-old man of five counts of sexually abusing his three stepchildren.
According to the three charges, he was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017, which is punishable under Section 14 of the same Act and read together with Section 16 of the same Act for sexually assaulting his two stepdaughters, aged 16 and 17.
He is accused of committing the offence around 2017 and 2019 in a house at Matang and in a sedan vehicle in February this year.
If convicted, he can be sentenced to jail for a term up to 20 years and whipping.
Meanwhile, for the other two charges, the man was charged under Section 14(b) of SOACA 2017 which is punishable under Section 14 of the same Act and read together with Section 16 of the same Act for committing sexual assault by touching the genitals of his 12-year-old stepson.
He is alleged to have committed the act in a house at Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol here and in a sedan vehicle at Sungei Sarawak waterfront in February.
If convicted, he is liable to be sentenced to a jail term of up to 20 years and subjected to whipping.
In yesterday’s proceedings at separate Sessions Courts, Judges Musli Abdul Hamid, Afidah Abdul Rahman and Maris Agan found that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused.
Therefore, the accused was released and acquitted of the charges framed in the case.
In addition, Judge Taufik Mohd@Mohd Yusoff also acquitted and released the accused after hearing the victims refused to pursue the case.
DPP Mohammad Fauzan Zamri prosecuted the case while the accused was represented by counsel Steven Beti and Gerald Empaling Donald.
