The question of who lodged the report was raised by sessions court judge Azrul Darus after the stepfather, an e-hailing driver, was charged with the offence today, Sinar Harian reported.

During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Atiqa Nazihah Azmi objected to bail being allowed as the accused lives in the same house as the complainant, the report said.

Azrul: Who lodged the police report?

Atiqa: The victim herself filed the police report. The main issue is separating the accused from the child.

The stepfather was charged with molesting the child at an apartment in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras, at noon on Oct 19. He pleaded not guilty. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail and whipping.

Lawyer K Narandra from the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented the accused, requested that bail be set at RM5,000. He said that the accused will stay at his brother’s house in Putrajaya while the victim will be sent to a boarding school.

He said bail would be provided by the wife of the accused, who is also the victim’s mother. The accused has three children, including two stepchildren.

The judge allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety.