Kuala Lumpur: A former assistant bowling coach who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a Malaysia Games (Sukma) athlete has been ordered to serve his six-year jail sentence starting today. Judge Datuk Hassan Abdul Ghani made the ruling after dismissing an appeal by Mat Salleh Jalani, 62, to set aside the conviction and sentence handed down by the Sessions Court on May 16 last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the court upheld the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court, confirming that Mat Salleh Jalani must begin serving his prison term immediately. The former coach was convicted for the physical sexual assault of a teenage boy, who was only 14 years and one month old at the time of the incident.

The offence took place at a housing estate in Marang in March 2018. The charge was framed under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. This section of the law provides for imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and also includes the possibility of whipping upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Nabihah Hanin Ayim represented the prosecution in the case. Mat Salleh’s legal counsel, Wan Suhaili Wan Ismail, announced plans to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal against today’s decision, indicating that the legal battle might continue beyond the current ruling.