A 28-year-old fireman appeared before the Sessions Court today, facing seven charges of physical sexual assault and possession of a pornographic image involving a 14-year-old boarding school student.
Muhammad Aidilafifi Muhammad pleaded not guilty to all charges before Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason.
He is accused of committing sexual assault against the student from a boarding school in Parit, with the acts alleged to include hugging, kissing her cheeks and lips, and groping and biting her breasts.
The offences were allegedly carried out at multiple locations — a mall parking lot in Seri Iskandar, inside and outside the school’s hostel area, and in front of a restaurant — between early February and May 1.
The charges are framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and whipping.
Aidilafifi, who also served as a trainer for the school’s Fire and Rescue Cadet unit, faces an additional charge of possessing a pornographic image of the victim, allegedly found on his mobile phone at the Perak Tengah District Police Headquarters at 5:00 PM on May 3. The possession charge, under Section 10 of the same Act, carries a maximum of five years in jail, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin requested that bail be denied, but proposed RM80,000 for all counts should the court decide otherwise.
Defence lawyer Ahmad Shamil Azad Abdul Hamid argued in mitigation that his client had fully cooperated with police and had served as a fireman for more than four years. “He is a civil servant earning RM2,500 a month and supports his parents and siblings. I plead for a bail of RM5,000,” he said.
Judge Jean Sharmila set bail at RM9,000 for all charges, ordering the accused to report to a police station on a monthly basis. He is also barred from contacting the victim, her family, or any witnesses in the case.
The case has been scheduled for mention on June 23.
