A man accused of fondling the buttocks of a little girl as she slept, denied the allegations in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The accused, who is charged with indecent assault, said he knew nothing of the allegations.

The court heard that the complainant was asleep in a bed in her room when the accused went in and fondled her buttocks. The child reportedly informed her parents of the event and the police were called in.

The accused told the court that a group of persons were sleeping in the room on different beds. He said he was not sleeping on the bed with the child. He said he had a dispute with the child's father over missing money and a missing phone and suggested that the allegations were concocted because of that disagreement.

The accused, who is a farmer, is to return to court on March 19 when he is to be tried.