World · Malaysia Bureau
Myanmar national appears in court over alleged child sexual assault in Penang
A 30-year-old Myanmar man has appeared in court to face charges related to the alleged sexual assault of an Australian child at a George Town hawker centre. The incident is said to have occurred on August 20 at a food stall in Lorong Baharu.
LSN Malaysia ·
The accused man appeared before the court on charges of allegedly touching a child's private parts without consent at the busy hawker stall in the heart of Penang's heritage district. The alleged incident took place during daylight hours at the popular food establishment, which draws both residents and tourists.
Authorities launched an investigation following a report lodged by the child's guardians. The case has drawn attention due to the international nature of the complaint, involving an Australian national.
The 30-year-old defendant is currently in custody as legal proceedings continue. The court has scheduled further hearings to address the charges, with both prosecution and defence presenting their cases.
The incident has raised concerns about child safety in public spaces across Penang's busy commercial areas. Local authorities have not released additional details regarding the investigation at this stage.