Utusan Malaysia reported that the 31-year-old man claimed trial after the charge against him was read before judge N Priscilla Hemamalini at the Alor Setar sessions court.

He is accused of committing physical sexual assault in a hotel room on Jalan Tandop Utama, Kota Setar, at 2.35am on Feb 22.

The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which provides for up to 20 years in jail and whipping if convicted.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurfatin Mastura Asri prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer Imran Farouk.

The prosecution requested the court to deny bail to the defendant, who also faces seven other charges under the same section in the Butterworth sessions court.

Imran requested that a minimum bail be allowed as the defendant needed to support his family and had not violated the conditions set by the Butterworth sessions court.

However, the prosecution said the incident in the current case occurred after he was granted bail for the previous charges, involving different victims.

The judge denied the defendant bail and set March 23 for case mention.