KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Cosmetics entrepreneur Safiey Ilias was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Ampang Sessions Court today of the four charges of committing sexual offences against two male teenagers two years ago.
Judge Norhazani Hamzah made the order after Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurfadzlin Mahmad Zulhasnan applied for Safiey, 29, whose real name is Mohd Safiuddin Ilias, to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal of all four counts.
“The case has been dismissed. The accused is granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal from all the charges and bail is returned,” Norhazani said.
Earlier, Nurfadzlin said the prosecution made the application on the grounds the accused will be charged again in Pahang and Johor as the victims, who are also witnesses in the case, were residing in those two states respectively.
“If the trial is to proceed in this court, it will inconvenience the victims as they will have to travel back and forth,” he said.
Lawyer, Harjeet Singh Sidhu, representing Safiey, had also urged the court to discharge and acquit his client of the four charges, saying the case has been going on for too long.
The court today was supposed to hear Safiey’s preliminary objection against two of the four charges he was facing.
Before this, the court had set the trial dates for September 4, September 5, September 11, and 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 at 9am on June 9, 2021.
The Syinta Gila singer also faced two counts of non-physical sexual assault against the victims at the same location, time and date.
The charges are 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.
— Bernama
