MELAKA: A former soldier has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of assaulting and molesting a male recruit at army base, Terendak Camp last year.
The accused, Mohd Amanah Habhijullah, 36, is charged with 15 counts of using criminal force with the intent to molest a 20-year-old private.
For these offences, he is charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine or caning or any two of those punishments, if convicted.
All the offences are alleged to have been committed at Terendak Camp, Sungai Udang here, on different dates and times between midnight on Aug 25, 2023, and 6am on Oct 14, 2023.
For the 16th and 17th charges, the accused is charged with causing injury to the same victim at the same place at 2am on Oct 15, 2023, and at 3pm on Oct 16, 2023.
These two offences are charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment if convicted.
Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Suleiman read out the charges.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Nor Asnini Kamarudin offered bail of RM134,000 for all charges, but defence attorney S Daniel appealed for a lower bail, taking into account that his client is currently in the process of employment termination and living off his savings.
In addition, the accused also needs to support elderly parents and cooperate fully with the police throughout the investigation.
The court then allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM12,000 for all charges with two local sureties in Melaka.
Furthermore, the accused must report to the nearby police station every month and is prohibited from being in contact with the victim. The case is adjourned until April 30.
