IPOH, August 7 — A technician was charged in the Sessions Court here today with seven counts of sexually assaulting his 14-year-old stepdaughter for the past three years in Bandar Universiti, Seri Iskandar.

The 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read before Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason.

According to the charge sheets, he was accused of committing sexual offences against the victim, who was 11 years old at the time, in May 2023 at a house in Bandar Universiti, Seri Iskandar, in the Perak Tengah district.

He was also charged with committing similar offences against the same victim in May 2024 and May 2025 at the same location.

The charges were framed under Sections 14(a), 14(b) and 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutors Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Aliff Aiman Rusli.

Nor Arfahanim urged the court to deny bail, arguing that the accused posed a risk of interfering with the victims and prosecution witnesses.

However, if bail were to be granted, she asked the court to set it at RM32,000 for all the charges with two non-family-member sureties.

She also sought additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and prohibiting him from contacting or disturbing the victims and witnesses.

Aliff appealed for bail to be set at a minimum of RM5,000 for all the charges, arguing that his client was the family’s sole breadwinner, earning RM2,400 a month, and had to support his 70-year-old mother and wife.

“My client is also a minor stroke patient and has no criminal record.

“The victim is currently under the care of the Welfare Department, and my client will not have any contact with the victim or the witnesses as he will be staying at his mother’s house in Pengkalan, Ipoh,” he said.

Judge Jean Sharmila granted bail of RM9,000 for all seven charges with one non-family-member surety.

The court also ordered the accused not to contact the victims or witnesses and to report to the nearest police station once a month pending the disposal of the case.

The court fixed September 17 for mention.