Remand extended for politician suspected of molesting Unduk Ngadau contestant

KOTA KINABALU: A politician will be held until Wednesday (June 9) after a Magistrate's Court here extended his remand order for another three days.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie granted the remand extension from today to Wednesday, under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The 52-year-old suspect who is also a businessman is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assaulting or using criminal force on another person with intent to outrage modesty.

It provides imprisonment of up to 10 years or fine or whipping or any two of such punishments, upon conviction.

He was alleged to have molested an Unduk Ngadau pageant contestant.

Marcel Jude Joseph, one of the suspect's lawyers told the New Straits Times that the application for remand was heard virtually via Zoom.

He said, the Investigating Officer applied for another three-day remand against his client to avoid witness tampering throughout the police's investigation.

He added the IO also needed more time for the suspect to further assist police investigation into the allegation.

"On our part, we maintained our objection to the application," he said.

Also representing the suspect was counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah.

The suspect was arrested on June 3 following a police report lodged by an Unduk Ngadau contestant claiming she was molested.

Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles earlier remanded the suspect for four days from June 4.

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