TAWAU: A school bus driver was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court in Tawau on Friday of a charge of physically sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female student two years ago.
Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya made the ruling in favour of Abdul Hassan Subahan, 34, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
Abdul Hassan had been accused of committing the offence inside a Toyota Hiace van, which was parked in front of a shop near a secondary school in Semporna between 6am and 6.20am on June 27, 2024.
He was alleged to have outraged the modesty of the student, who was one of his passengers, after dropping off other students at school on the day of the incident.
The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, on conviction.
The trial commenced on September 25, 2025, with six prosecution witnesses testifying during the proceedings.
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Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Haikal Hazwan Md Yatin appeared for the prosecution, while Abdul was represented by Nigel Keong Kaning and Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali.
