A 52-year-old teacher was charged at the Sessions Court here today with 11 counts of sexual offences involving nine male pupils, including physical sexual assault, sodomy and engaging in sexual intercourse against the order of nature.
The accused, who is unmarried, pleaded not guilty to all charges after they were read out before Judge Tengku Shahrizan Tuan Lah.
Seven of the charges allege that the teacher committed physical sexual assault with sexual intent against seven boys aged between eight and 12. The offences were allegedly carried out between April 2024 and July 1 this year at a house in Kampung Beris Panchor, Tawang near Bachok, as well as at a school cooperative room, sports management room and computer laboratory at a school here.
For these charges, the accused was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, punishable under Section 14 read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
He was also charged with two counts of committing physical sexual assault by sodomising two boys aged nine and 11 at a school cooperative shop here in mid-2024 and July 2024. These charges were brought under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which likewise carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail and whipping.
In addition, the teacher faces two charges of engaging in sexual intercourse against the order of nature with an 11-year-and-four-month-old boy at a school sports management room here in February and May this year. These charges were framed under Section 377A of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 377B, read together with Section 16(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan, while the accused was represented by counsel Mohd Firdaus Zainal Abidin.
Siti Hajar did not propose bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the involvement of nine victims aged between eight and 12.
However, Mohd Firdaus sought reasonable bail with strict conditions, arguing that his client has served as a teacher for 17 years, is unmarried, and had been transferred to a department in Kota Baru after completing a 14-day remand in July.
The court allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM55,000 with one surety for all charges, subject to conditions including surrendering his passport, refraining from contacting the victims or prosecution witnesses, and reporting to the nearest police station once a month.
