Harun Ismail pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Sayani Nor, Berita Harian reported.

According to the charge, the incident took place on a plot of land in Segamat at night, between January and July 2022.

Harun was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 14 of the same Act which provides for up to 20 years in prison and caning, upon conviction.

The victim had sought treatment from Harun for an unexplained illness, but his treatments allegedly made her uncomfortable.

She confided in her grandmother, who filed a police report at the Segamat police headquarters.

Deputy public prosecutor Diyana Najihah Fauzi led the prosecution while Harun was unrepresented.

The court allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety, and ordered Harun to report to the nearest police station once a month. He was also instructed not to contact the victim or witnesses.

The court fixed March 19 for case mention, allowing for document submission and time for the accused to appoint a lawyer.