A preschool teacher was charged at the Sessions Court here today with two counts of allegedly committing physical sexual assault against an eight-year-old boy in April.
The accused, Muhamad Shazali T. Sharipudin, 42, pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read before Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.
On the first charge, he was accused of committing physical sexual assault against the child by placing his tongue in the victim’s mouth for sexual purposes.
The alleged offence was said to have occurred at about 10am on April 1 inside a preschool classroom at a national school in Rembau district.
For the second charge, the accused was alleged to have committed a similar offence against the same child at about 9am on April 3, also inside the preschool classroom.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi applied for bail to be set at RM20,000 with one surety, as well as conditions preventing the accused from contacting or interfering with the victim and witnesses.
However, defence lawyer Syed Amirul Syed Edros requested a lower bail amount, arguing that his client posed no flight risk.
The lawyer told the court that the accused had previously been remanded in April and had remained under police bail since then, while continuing to attend court as required.
He also said his client was single, supported his mother, earned a net monthly income of about RM4,000 and had since been transferred to the District Education Office, meaning he was no longer attached to the school where the alleged offences took place.
After hearing submissions from both sides, the court granted bail of RM8,000 with one surety for both charges.
The court also ordered that the accused or his representative must not interfere with the victim or the victim’s representatives and must report to the authorities on the first day of every month until the case is concluded.
His international passport was also ordered to be surrendered to the court. The court fixed September 15 for case management.
