LAHAD DATU: A foreigner was sentenced to eight years jail and two strokes of the cane by the Session Court here on Monday for committing physical sexual harassment against his sister-in-law.
Judge Suhailla Selag handed down the sentence after hearing the appeal from the accused.
The accused was found guilty of committing the offence against the 11-year-old girl by touching her private parts at an unnumbered house in Kampung Tanjung Labian on August 8, 2025.
He was convicted under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
According to the fact of the case, on the day of the incident, the sleeping victim was awakened about 1am and saw her brother-in-law sitting between her legs.
The victim’s shorts have been taken off while her underwear was pulled down to her knees and the accused was touching her private parts.
The victim who was shocked kicked, hit and pushed the accused. She tried to scream but the accused covered her mouth and told the victim not to tell her parents.
At about 2.30am, the victim entered her parent’s room and told her mother about the incident.
She was later taken to the clinic for examination and upon arrival, the victim told the doctor about the incident and referred to the Lahad Datu Hospital.
The victim’s mother lodged a police report at 7.33am on August 8, 2025.
The court also ordered the accused to undergo counselling during his detention and to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving his sentence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Ng Juhn Tao prosecuted.
