KOTA KINABALU: A politician accused of sexually assoulting a contestant in the 2021 Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival beauty pageant, was ordered to enter his defence on four charges at the Magistrate Court here.
The decision was made by Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie against Philip Among, 53, after the court was satisfied that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against the accused.
The court has set February 19, 22 and 23 for the accused to enter his defence.
In all four charges, Among is accused of sexually assaulting an Unduk Ngadau contestant four times at various locations between 2 pm and 10 pm on May 19, 2021.
The incidents allegedly occurred in a studio in Asia City, here; in a moving vehicle from a restaurant to an old office in Kota Kinabalu; on a staircase near the Ever Best premises in Asia City; and in an office in Metro Town.
The accused is charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine or whipping or any two of those penalties upon conviction.
On June 10, 2021, the accused claimed trial for the charges, and the trial commenced on April 11 last year before the prosecution concluded it on September 7 this year after calling eight witnesses.
During the incidents, Among served as the technical director for the 2021 state-level Unduk Ngadau competition.
He was also the Putatan Parliamentary Coordinator for Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) before being suspended following two police reports made against him regarding the sexual harassment.
The accused's trial was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan, while Among was represented by lawyers Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah and Mohd Azhier Farhan.
For yesterday's proceedings, the prosecution was represented by DPP Batrisyia Mohd Khusri.
Earlier, on October 31, Among was also ordered to enter his defence by another Magistrate Court for allegedly sexually assaulting another woman at 11 pm on April 17, 2021, in the living room of an accommodation in Asia City, here.