A 35-year-old tahfiz teacher pleaded not guilty at the Ampang Sessions Court today to four charges of allegedly sexually assaulting two male pupils at a religious school in Taman Keramat.
Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin is accused of committing the alleged offences against the two boys, aged 10 and 11, at the premises between July and August 2026.
The charges were brought under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.
If convicted under Sections 14(a) and 14(b), the accused faces up to 20 years in prison and caning, while Section 16(1) provides for a maximum five-year jail term and at least two strokes of the rotan.
Muhammad Ilyas is also facing a charge under Section 15(f) of the same Act, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences and concerns that the accused could intimidate the victims if released.
Defence lawyer Mohd Zaharudeen Harun subsequently sought bail of RM10,000 for all the charges, saying his client had been dismissed from his employment with immediate effect and needed to provide for his ailing elderly parents.
“I understand that the madrasah has terminated the accused’s employment with immediate effect, and there is no issue of him returning to the premises to interfere with witnesses or the victims,” he told the court.
Judge Ho Kwong Chin later allowed bail at RM30,000 with one surety for all four charges.
The court also ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and prohibited him from contacting, intimidating or interfering with any witnesses or victims throughout the proceedings.
The case has been fixed for mention on October 5.
