Cosmetics entrepreneur Safiey Ilias has been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Ampang Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur. The court made the decision after the Deputy Public Prosecutor applied for Safiey to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal of the four charges of committing sexual offences against two male teenagers two years ago.
The order was granted on the grounds that the accused will be charged again in Pahang and Johor, as the victims, who were also witnesses, reside in those two states respectively. The victims would need to travel back and forth if the trial were to proceed in the current court, causing inconvenience.
Safiey’s lawyer also urged the court to discharge and acquit his client, citing that the case had been ongoing for an extended period of time.
Prior to this decision, the court had scheduled trial dates for September 4, 5, and 11, as well as October 2. Safiey was charged with two counts of sexually communicating with two victims through his Instagram account at his residence in Bandar Baru Bangi on June 9, 2021.
Additionally, he also faced two counts of non-physical sexual assault against the victims at the same location, time, and date. The charges were framed under Section 11(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum prison sentence of three years, and Section 15 (a)(i), which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years or a fine of up to RM20,000 or both upon conviction. Safiey, whose real name is Mohd Safiuddin Ilias, is 29 years old.
The Ampang Sessions Court ultimately granted Safiey a discharge not amounting to an acquittal from all four charges, and his bail was returned.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
