Hotel employee fined for molesting stepdaughter

A 58-year-old man was fined $6,000 yesterday for molesting his 25-year-old stepdaughter.

The hotel employee had attempted to kiss the victim in January last year.

The court heard that the molest occurred after the victim returned with her stepfather and her mother to their flat after shopping.

To protect the identity of the victim, no one can be named.

The two women were looking for a newly bought perfume bottle in the master bedroom when a call on the mother's mobile phone interrupted the search and they left the room.

Soon after, the stepfather called out to the victim and told her that he knew where the missing perfume bottle was.

When she entered the room, she saw that he did not have the bottle.

He placed his right arm over her shoulder and told her not to be angry. He then pulled her face towards him and tried to kiss her once on her right cheek, saying it was a "birthday kiss".

Pushed him away

She immediately pushed him away and walked out of the room.

Another charge of molesting the stepdaughter when she was 18 was also considered during sentencing.

The father could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined.

The man, who has three grown-up children from his first marriage, and the victim's mother are divorcing. He married her after the death of his wife.

This article was published on April 3 in The New Paper.

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