SEREMBAN: A 46-year-old lorry driver claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to three counts of committing physical sexual assault against his 12-year-old daughter.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges after they were read to him before judge Surita Budin.

For the first charge, he was accused of committing the offence against the victim at a house in Port Dickson around 9pm in February this year.

For the second and third charges, he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim twice around 9pm on May 16 at the same place and time.

He was charged under sections 14(a) and 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 read together with sections 16 and 16(1) of the same legislation.

Offenders can be jailed up to 20 years and whipped upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunanid then told the court that her team was not offering the accused any bail.

However, she said if the court were to allow it, the amount offered should be set at RM50,000 for each charge.

Nurul Balkis said the accused should also report to the nearest police station once every month until the case is disposed of, to stay away from the victim and witnesses and to surrender his passport to the court.

In pleading for bail, defence lawyer V Segaran said the accused no longer lived in the same house with the accused and that he was not a flight risk as he had surrendered to the police upon receiving news that he was wanted by them.

He said the accused only earned about RM3,000 a month, had a family to provide for and would be bailed by his brother-in-law.

Judge Surita then fixed bail at RM10,000 for each charge and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.

The court fixed Aug 15 for remention.