A 64-year-old man was charged in the Sessions Court on Friday with physically sexually abusing his three-year-old step-grandson last year.
The accused pleaded not guilty before Judge Datin Surita Budin after the charges were read out.
According to the indictment, the offences took place between 7 am and 10 am at a residence in Labu, Nilai, sometime between October and November 2025.
The act falls under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni requested bail set at RM20,000 with three additional conditions, confirming that the accused is the victim’s step-grandfather.
Defence lawyer Mohd Hanif Hassan sought a lower bail, citing his client’s chronic spinal condition, asthma, nerve disorder, and mild paralysis. He added that the accused is unemployed, dependent on his children, and responsible for his ailing wife, one child, and an elderly 80-year-old mother.
The court eventually granted bail at RM16,000 with one surety, along with conditions to avoid contacting the victim and report monthly to the nearest police station.
The case is scheduled for a mention on 30 March.
This case underscores the challenges in handling sensitive offences involving minors while balancing public safety and the accused’s health and family circumstances.
