KANGAR: Arau member of parliament Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who was charged with molesting an underage girl, failed to appear at the Sessions Court this morning due to his health condition.
The case was fixed for mention today.
Due to his failure to attend the session, Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad fixed Feb 18 as the new date for mention and to also enable the handing over of documents related to the case.
The Court also fixed Feb 25 for the prosecution team to make their representation over the case.
Thalia Rohana Abd Latif, who is one of the three counsels representing the former minister, earlier told the Court that her client is undergoing nervous system treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Kuala Lumpur.
The other two counsels representing the 67-years-old politician for the case are Zuhair Ahmad Zakwan and Syed Muhammad Anwar Syed Lokman.
Counsel Mohd Hapiz Razali, who was appointed to hold a watching brief for the victim, said her family have announced their intention to no go ahead with the proceeding of the case.
The family, he said, had come to such decision as the fear would take put pressure on the victim and that her schooling session would not be affected by the case.
On Nov 12 last year, Shahidan pleaded not guilty at the Kangar Sessions Court here to a charge of molesting the victim, who then 15 years old.
According to the charge sheet, Shahidan had allegedly hold hand of the victim and caressed her shoulder inside a Toyota Harrier at the open space of the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium here at 11.30pm on Oct 20.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for physical sexual assault on a child by touching any part of the child’s body.
If convicted, Shahidan faces imprisonment of up to 10 years and whipping. He also risks losing his parliamentary seat if found guilty.