Unduk Ngadau competitor collapses

Published on: Wednesday April 13, 2022

By: Cynthia D. Baga

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Kota Kinabalu: Beauty pageant contestant Unduk Ngadau collapsed during her testimony against a 52-year-old politician accused of assaulting her on Tuesday, forcing magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to adjourn the hearing for a few minutes. The 22-year-old cried when asked by Assistant Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan how she felt when the defendant, Phillip Among, stroked her back. She said she was shocked and felt uncomfortable when he stroked her saying “halus oh belakang kau, tiada jerawat” (the skin on your back is smooth with no pimples).

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Testifying on the first day of the trial on Tuesday, she said her back was exposed because she was wearing a bare dress. She said that although Philip did the same on the stairs as they went up to a studio for a photo shoot, she had a positive opinion of him. She said there was no one with her when it happened. She was the first witness at the hearing of Philip who faces four counts of sexual assault against her on May 19, 2021 at 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively, on a staircase next to Ever Best Photo in Asia City at Studio Darvel Bay Borneo Holidays Sdn Bhd in Asia City in a moving vehicle on his way from a dinner party to an old office in the city and an office in Metro Town. The offense under Article 354 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years, or fine or lashes or both, if convicted. Phillip, who was technical manager of the 2021 Unduk Ngadau contest, had on June 10, 2021 called for a trial on the charges. According to the witness, she went to Kota Kinabalu from Kota Marudu on May 19, 2021 with a Puan Alice and after arriving in Kota Kinabalu around 11 a.m. Philip picked her up in a black Ninja King. She said Alice told Philip to take care of her as she (Alice) could not attend the photoshoot as she had other issues.

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Before going to the studio, the eyewitness said she went to Ever best Photo, which was part of the studio, to choose an outfit for the photoshoot. She said that after the staircase incident, she and Philip went to the studio for a photoshoot where an employee named Olivia did her makeup. She said during the photoshoot that she didn’t know how to pose for the camera and Philip defined her body posture by touching her shoulder and body. There were five people in the studio and one of them was the photographer known as “Orang Putih Kita”. She said that when Philip touched her shoulder and body she felt uncomfortable but dared not speak for fear that Philip would be offended because she respected Philip as a member of the committee at the state level of Unduk Ngadau. When asked by Siti Hajar, she said the photographer had seen Philip’s act at the time. She said her shoulder was exposed because of the design of the dress.

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Phillip, who was released on extended bail, was represented by attorneys Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah and Azhier Farhan Arisin. The trial continues.
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