The three accused await the court hearing.
SIBU: Two men were yesterday indicted on several sexual offence charges under the Child Act 2017, although no plea was taken from them due to the absence of a judge.
Subordinate court registrar, Rommie Ahmad Zaidi, thus ordered the cases to be brought for further mention today at the Sessions Court here.
One of the men, a grandfather, 53, is facing three charges and the other (uncle), 25, is facing five.
Both were refused bail because the offences they allegedly committed were serious in nature.
The elder man is alleged to have touched the vagina of his granddaughter, 7, in May, June and July at a longhouse in Sungai Durin.
Of the five charges against the younger man, four of them are similar to the charges framed against the older man.
The offence is punishable under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 16 of the same Act.
An offender could be punished with jail term of up to 20 years and liable to whipping under Section 14 upon conviction, whereas Section 16 states that such person shall, in addition to the punishment to which he is liable for such offence, could be jailed up to five years and with whipping of not less than two strokes.
The other charge against the uncle stated that he did cause his niece to watch an audio visual, by means of a mobile phone, of another person engaging in sexual activity, to wit, pornographic video clips between May and August at a longhouse in Sungai Durin.
The offence is punishable under Section 15(e) of the Sexual Offences Against Child Act, 2017 and Section 16 of the same Act.
An offender could face up to 10 years’ jail or maximum fine of RM20,000 or both under Section 15, upon conviction.
In a separate case, a 53-year-old man also faces two charges under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
In the first charge, the man allegedly touched the private part, mouth and breast of a 17-year-old girl at a sports complex here between 9.30am and 11am on Sept 7.
The second charge said he allegedly masturbated in the presence of the same girl at the same venue and time.
The offences are listed under subsection 15(c) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for a jail term not exceeding 10 years or RM20,000 fine or both on conviction.
His case is also set for re-mention today for similar reason.