An English teacher has pleaded not guilty at the Ampang Sessions Court to two charges of allegedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old pupil under his care last month.
The accused, 45-year-old Mohd Saufi Jama’in, is alleged to have committed the offences against the child, with whom he was in a position of trust as her teacher, on two separate occasions.
According to the charges, the alleged incidents took place at the teachers’ dining area of the school canteen at approximately 9am on May 5 and May 7.
Mohd Saufi was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
The charges were read together with Section 16 of the same Act, which relates to offences committed within a relationship of trust. As the accused was the victim’s teacher, the provision carries an additional prison term of up to five years and a minimum of two strokes of the cane if convicted.
The charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Ho Kwong Chin, where the accused entered a plea of not guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Hairuliqram Hairuddin requested bail of RM20,000 with one surety covering both charges.
The prosecution also sought additional conditions requiring the accused to report to a police station once a month and prohibiting any contact or interference with the alleged victim and prosecution witnesses.
During mitigation, defence counsel Francis Pereira requested lower bail of RM4,000 for each charge, arguing that his client had no previous criminal record.
The lawyer told the court that Mohd Saufi had served as a teacher for nearly two decades without facing any disciplinary action and had cooperated fully with investigators throughout the case.
He also argued that the accused posed no flight risk.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Judge Ho allowed bail at RM12,000 with one surety for both charges and imposed the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
The court fixed August 4 for the next mention of the case.
As the matter is currently before the courts, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
