Kota Kinabalu: A 55-year-old politician suspended from his role as Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR)’s Putatan Parliamentary Coordinator will know his fate on Nov 14 in a case involving allegations of molesting a teenager four years ago.
The Magistrate’s Court set the date for the decision in the case of Phillip Among (pic), who was suspended in June 2021 following the allegations.
Phillip is accused of molesting an 18-year-old girl at around 11pm on April 17, 2021, in the living room of Jesselton Capsule Inn, Asia City.
He claimed trial on June 10, 2021, to a charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or any combination of such punishments upon conviction.
During the trial, 10 prosecution witnesses and one defence witness testified before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus.
Separately, Phillip is also awaiting a decision on four other charges of molesting a 2021 State Unduk Ngadau contestant. The date for that verdict has yet to be fixed.
For those counts, he is accused of committing the offences at 2pm, 3.30pm, 9.45pm, and 10pm on May 19, 2021, at different locations — including a staircase near Ever Best Photo in Asia City, Studio Darvel Bay Borneo Holidays Sdn Bhd in Asia City, a moving vehicle, and an office in Metro Town.
Phillip was serving as the technical head of the 2021 Unduk Ngadau competition at the time.
Eight prosecution and two defence witnesses testified in that case before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin.
