KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate's Court here ordered a politician to be remanded for four days to facilitate police investigation into the allegation of sexual misconduct against an Unduk Ngadau contestant.
Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles granted the application of remand on the 52-year-old, beginning today until June 7.
She also made an additional order that at anytime needed, the suspect was to be brought to the hospital.
Lovely made the decision on the grounds that the suspect might tamper with the witnesses and complainant in this case, if he is to be released.
The hearing was held virtually and the suspect was held in a police station.
Earlier, the investigating officer of this case had applied for a four-day remand order under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The suspect will be investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assaulting or use of criminal force on a person with intent to outrage modesty.
It provides imprisonment of up to 10 years or fine or whipping or with any two of such punishments, upon conviction.
Counsel Marcel Jude Joseph who represented the suspect objected to the remand application, saying among others that his client has health problems.
Yesterday (June 3), the suspect filed a suit against the 21-year-old Unduk Ngadau contestant, a 65-year-old man, as well as the owner and publisher of two different websites.
The politician, after filing the writ of summons, held a press conference to explain the matter. However, policemen from the Kota Kinabalu police's Criminal Investigation Department turned up as the politician spoke to newsmen.
Policemen allowed the press conference to conclude before taking the politician away for questioning over the case.