The Sessions Court today set Feb 15 to mention the case of former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim who is charged with committing physical sexual assault on an underage girl.

Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad fixed the date after the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail, submitted the case documents to the defence.

Shahidan, 68, was represented by lawyers Thalia Rohaina Abdul Latiff, Syed Muhammad Anwar Syed Lokman Hakim and Zuhair Ahmad Zakuan.

The Arau MP was charged with sexually assaulting the girl, then aged 15 years and seven months, by touching her arm in a vehicle at the compound of the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium in Kangar at about 11.30pm on Oct 20 last year.

The charge, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for imprisonment up to 20 years and whipping if found guilty. 

- Bernama