KOTA KINABALU: A mechanic from Tuaran, who is wanted by the authority for allegedly committing various offences, was brought to the Sessions Court here to face two counts of armed robbery and another charge of forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him.
Sukarman Kadir, 31, who appeared before judge Azreena Aziz yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the three charges.
On the first and second charges, the accused was alleged to have robbed two salon workers of their cellphones at a house in Taman Sri Kepayan on August 19 while armed with a machete.
The indictment, under Section 392 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 397 of the same Code, carries a maximum jail of 20 years and also liable to whipping upon conviction.
The third count alleged that the accused had asked one of the women to perform oral sex on him at the same time and place.
He was charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code which provides for 20 years’ jail and also liable to whipping, upon conviction.
The judge set October 21 for case management and the accused, who was represented by counsel Muhamad Amirul Amin, was denied bail.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Dominic Chew objected to bail on the grounds that the accused had committed various offences and likely to abscond.
Chew also said the accused was a wanted person as he had allegedly committed various offences in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur and had absconded.
In reply, the counsel urged the court to release his client on bail as Sukarman was still innocent until proven guilty.
The prosecution would call five witnesses to testify against the accused during the trial.