KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- A fast food outlet worker was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service over six months by the Sessions Court here today for groping a girl who was his neighbour in an apartment lift last month.
Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar imposed the sentence on the 19-year-old boy after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The teenager was accused of physically sexually assaulting the 12-year-old victim by groping her hair and back for sexual purposes in the lift of an apartment in Taman Desa here, at 4.38 pm on June 10.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and caning, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the teenager had groped the victim while she was in the lift with her 10-year-old sister.
The victim and her sister then got out of the lift on one of the floors and confided what happened to their mother, following which a police report was lodged leading to his arrest.
Earlier in the proceedings, Nur Khalidah Ab Hamid, a community development officer from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), presented the teenager's social report.
It highlighted findings from interviews with the teenager and his parents, revealing factors such as their living environment and peer relationships that contributed to his engaging in unlawful behavior without considering the repercussions.
Nur Khalidah recommended a six-month, 120-hour community service order for the teenager to help develop a more mature mindset, encouraging him to consider the consequences before engaging in any unlawful actions.
"Considering the nominee (the teenager) is a passive person who is not good at adapting to the environment and also daydreams a lot, this punishment is appropriate to return him to society," she said.
Nur Khalidah also suggested the nominee be enrolled in the Skills and Career Programme @ CSO for career development.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir appeared for the prosecution, while the teenager was unrepresented.
-- BERNAMA
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