Sinar Harian reported that Leang Win Son, 32, pleaded not guilty after the charge against him was read in Mandarin before judge Madihah Zainol today.

Leang was charged with sexually assaulting the nine-year-old girl in the toilet of a coffee shop in Taman Iris, Kulai, at around 7.30pm on Sept 14.

The charge was made under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin offered no bail, as Leang had been charged under Sections 363 and 346 of the Penal Code with kidnapping and Section 15(a)(ii) of Act 792 with non-physical sexual assault on Aug 7, 2024.

“The accused is still on trial, with the next hearings scheduled for Oct 6 and Oct 7. He was previously freed on court bail.

“He was also previously charged under Section 10 of Act 792 with possessing child pornography, and pleaded guilty to five charges in July,” she said, adding that the offer of bail carried the risk of the accused reoffending.

National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Nur Zafirah Norizan requested for bail and for Leang to be referred for a mental examination.

“The accused is working for his mother and makes RM50 a day. He cooperated well with the authorities throughout his previous court cases,” she said.

The court withheld bail, and set Oct 6 for the case to be mentioned again.