Child sex offence - second arrest warrant for ex-national athlete

Editor’s note [April 9, 2026]: This case has been granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) on April 29, 2019.

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today issued an arrest warrant for former national basketball athlete Mohd Shadzwan Kamarulzaman for failing to appear for his trial of an alleged sexual offence against a minor.

Today was supposed to be the first day of Shadzwan's trial at the Special Court for sexual offences against children in Putrajaya.

Judge Yong Zarida Sazali issued the warrant following a request from deputy public prosecutor Noor Jazilah Mohd Yushaa when Shadzwan failed to appear after a break in proceedings.

The former national athlete, now 30, had earlier arrived in court dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt, and reiterated his intention to be heard before the court.

The deputy public prosecutor then requested for some time to prepare the victim's statement before resuming the trial.

However, Shadzwan failed to appear when court resumed.

His lawyer, Khairul Mokhtar, then apologised to the court saying that his client had to attend to an emergency and that he had tried to contact Shadzwan twice. 

The laywer did not specify what the emergency was, however.

The former national athlete was charged under Section 377E of the Penal Code for inciting a child to an act of gross indecency, which is punishable by up to five years' jail and whipping.

A similar arrest warrant was issued against Shadzwan on Nov 1 last year, but this was later withdrawn by the court when he explained the reason behind the delay of his scheduled court appearance.

The two-day trial has now been adjourned to Feb 12.

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