MIRI: A Pakistani participant of a religious troupe pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday on a charge of molesting an 11 year old boy.
Ahmed Akhlaq, 38, from Quetta, Pakistan, was charged under Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term up to 20 years and a fine on conviction.
Ahmed was accused of touching the boy with sexual intention at a mosque in Lutong here about 5pm on Nov 15.
The charge was read to him in Urdu by a Pakistani translator.
Earlier, DPP Aftal Mariz Mohamed applied for a date to be set for case management as the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
The court released him on a RM20,000-bail with two local sureties and his passport seized and kept by the investigating office until the case is over.
However, his defence counsel Ranbir Singh applied for the bail amount to be reduced.
The accused was released on RM15,000-bail with two local sureties, and to pay a RM7,000-deposit with the court while awaiting the next hearing.
Judge Steve Ritikos set Jan 8 next year for the case management.