KUCHING: A paddy farmer was charged before the Sessions Court here on one count of sexually assaulting his six-year-old daughter last month.
The 34-year-old entered a guilty plea before Judge Iris Awen Jon to a charge under Section 377CA of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and caning, upon conviction.
He is accused of sexually assaulting his daughter by forcibly inserting his fingers into her genitals and anus at their home in a village within Tebedu.
It is understood that a police report was filed by the mother after she discovered red mark on her daughter’s genitals and suspected that she had been molested.
Further alarm bells rang when the complainant observed a change in her daughter’s behaviour, who was startled awake when the complainant was about to change her daughter’s nightgown.
Later, the complainant questioned her daughter, who bravely disclosed that her father “had disturbed her with his hands” and indicated her genital area.
Following that, the victim was taken to the hospital for further examination and the medical officer confirmed that there were signs of tearing on the victim’s genitals.
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff requested a new mention date as the necessary exhibits for the case were still pending.
The prosecution did not offer any bail as the offence is non-bailable in addition to preventing the accused from absconding.
The court ordered the accused to be remanded in custody until the next mention date scheduled for May 13.
Meanwhile, the accused will also be brought before the Serian Magistrate’s Court on a charge under Section 292 of the Penal Code for possessing obscene videos on his phone.
The accused appeared in court without legal representation.
