A private college staff member was charged at the Sessions Court here today with three offences involving physical sexual assault and unnatural intercourse against two teenage boys last month.
The accused, Fikri Zainal Abidin, 38, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud. The case involves two 15-year-old students who were allegedly victims in separate incidents.
Based on the charges, Fikri was accused of committing physical sexual assault against both teenagers. He was also charged with intentionally committing an act of intercourse against the order of nature with one of the two victims.
The offences were allegedly committed at a house in Section 18, Shah Alam on June 20 and June 23. He was also accused of committing another offence at the hostel of the college located in Section U1, Shah Alam, at 9.51am on June 29.
For the physical sexual assault charges, Fikri was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping. The charge involving intercourse against the order of nature was made under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of between five and 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Roshaira Rosly and KS Rinisha Priya did not offer bail for the accused. However, Fikri, who was unrepresented, requested bail, saying he needed time to appoint a lawyer and had to care for his parents.
Judge Awang Kerisnada later advised the accused that he could appoint legal representation while in custody. The court then fixed August 11 for the next mention of the case.
Previously, media reports stated that police arrested a man following reports lodged by two 15-year-old boys, who were students at a college in Glenmarie, over alleged sodomy and molestation offences.
Police investigations found that one of the victims claimed he was assaulted in the toilet of the college hostel, while another victim alleged he was subjected to the offence at the suspect’s house in Section 18, Shah Alam.
Checks also revealed that the suspect, who was in his 30s at the time of arrest, had a previous criminal record involving a sexual offence against children.
