SEREMBAN: A 65-year-old man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to eight counts of sexually grooming a 12-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her last month.

V. Subramaniam claimed trial before judge Junaidah Mohd Isa on Thursday (July 18) after the interpreter read out the charges to him in Tamil.

He was charged with producing and being in possession of a pornographic clip featuring him and the victim at a parking lot at the Seremban Municipal Council hawker complex around 6pm between the second and third week of June.

The accused, who is married, was also charged with masturbating in front of the victim and forcing her to do the same on him and other acts.

All the alleged offences were committed at the same time and place.

He was charged under sections 5, 10, 12, and 14(a), 14(b), 15(a)(1), 15(c) and 15(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.

For the more serious offences, offenders can be jailed up to 30 years and whipped at least six times.

The accused was also charged with being in possession of child pornography in his two mobile phones. He allegedly committed the offence at the Seremban district police station here at 2.30am on July 10.

For this, Subramaniam, who was unrepresented, was charged under section 293 of the Penal Code.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked the court not to allow bail as the accused knew the victim and her parents.

"The accused has easy access to the victim and her parents, and we do not want him to disturb the potential witnesses," he said.

The accused asked the court for bail as he had to provide for his family. However, the judge denied his request and fixed Aug 21 for re-mention.