KANGAR: Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has pleaded not guilty to molesting an underage girl at the Sessions Court here today.
The 67-year-old Arau member of parliament nodded after the charge was read out before Judge Johari Hassan.
According to the charge sheet, Shahidan was charged with molesting the 15-year-old girl by holding her hand and caressing 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.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail prosecuted and Shahidan was represented by Thalia Rohana Abd Latiff, Zuhair Ahmad Zakwan and Syed Muhammad Anwar Syed Lokman.
Nordin asked the court to impose a high bail amount as it was a high-profile case and was of public interest.
He also asked for Shahidan to surrender his passport to the court. However, Thalia said Shahidan was unlikely to pose a flight risk.
The court then set bail at RM25,000 in two sureties. Shahidan was allowed to keep his passport and the case is up for remention on Jan 8 next year.
Shahidan had earlier arrived at the Kangar Courts Complex in a convoy of six cars at 8.20am.
Appearing composed, Shahidan was escorted to the complex’s entrance under heavy police guard.
About 30 people, made up of the MP’s family members, friends and supporters, were present at the court as a show of solidarity.
Shahidan had failed to turn up in court last week to face charges and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
Shahidan was quoted as saying that he was in Mecca performing the umrah at the time.
The unnamed girl had claimed that Shahidan offered to pay her RM4,000 to perform in Kuala Lumpur while holding her hand and caressing her shoulder.
Shahidan has denied molesting the girl, who initially lodged a police report over the matter.
The report was later withdrawn and the girl's father had claimed that the matter was amicably resolved and the family deemed that there was no need to blow it out of proportion.
It was reported that the girl is part of a busker group sponsored by Shahidan.
Shahidan had claimed that he asked to meet the girl and his family in his car after watching her street performance as he wanted to give them some money.