Bandar Seri Begawan - A Canadian citizen who had been remanded in Jerudong Prison was brought before the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate's Court yesterday to hear a total of four charges read against him under the Penal Code, Chapter 22.

The defendant is accused on three charges for voluntarily abusing his 48-year-old wife and two daughters aged 16 and 20 years old, and one charge for restraining one of his daughters at home within the Bengkurong vicinity.

The Statement of Facts read in the court indicated that the defendant was detained on September 17, 2012, after the assumed attack that presumably occurred between 12.30am and 1.30am. The defendant had apparently pushed his wife against the wall, and also pushed his youngest daughter to the floor and then proceeded to step on her head. He also pushed and punched his eldest daughter in the stomach and then kicked her thigh.

The Public Prosecutor, who was represented by DPP Pg Hajah Hana Molina Pg Hj Mohammad, requested for a delay of a few days to finalise the charges before he is able to see his children as they may be the subject matter in the future.

The defendant has requested assistance from the court to help him contact the Canadian High Commission who had promised to seek for a defence counsel for him. Although there was no objection by the DPP in regards to the bail, the defendant made it clear during the previous hearing on September 19, 2012 that he could not afford the B$5,000 bail or grant local surety as he had been dependant on his wife for the past 14 years. The Magistrate agreed and asked the prosecution to look into the matter.

Furthermore, the defendant was keen on pleading guilty to the counts that he has been charged for, but again, due to unfinished investigations, no plea was recorded.

The defendant still faces the possibility of four-year prison terms and fines under Section 323 of the Penal Code that carries an imprisonment sentence that could extend to three years with a fine, and under Section 341 under the Penal Code that carries an imprisonment sentence that could extend to one year with a fine.

The case will be further mentioned on October 6, 2012 at the Magistrate's Court.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin