KUALA LUMPUR: A fast food outlet worker has been ordered to perform 120 hours of community service over six months by the Sessions Court here for groping a 12-year-old girl in an apartment lift.
Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar imposed the sentence on the 19-year-old yesterday after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The teenager admitted to physically sexually assaulting his neighbour by groping her hair and back in the apartment lift at Taman Desa here at 4.38pm on June 10.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences 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 groped the victim while she was in the lift with her 10-year-old sister.
The victim and her sister got out of the lift on one of the floors and then told their mother what had happened.
A police report was lodged, leading to the arrest.
Earlier in the proceedings, Nur Khalidah Ab Hamid, a community development officer from the Social Welfare Department, 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 the unlawful behaviour 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 unlawful actions.
“Considering the nominee 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.
