A Form Six student has been ordered by the Sessions Court here to be detained at Henry Gurney School in Kuching until the age of 21 after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material in his mobile phone.
Judge Musli Ab Hamid also directed the teenager to undergo rehabilitation counselling throughout his detention under Section 26(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017.
In addition, the court ordered that he be placed under police supervision in Bau for two years after his release.
The court further instructed the school authorities to ensure that the accused completes his Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) studies.
The decision was made after the court reviewed a social report prepared by the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
On April 10, the accused pleaded guilty to two charges under the SOACA 2017.
For the first charge, he was accused of being involved in activities related to child pornography under Section 8 of the Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and whipping of not less than three strokes upon conviction.
For the second charge under Section 10 of the same Act, he was accused of possessing child sexual abuse material in his phone, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both.
The offence was committed at about 9.10pm on April 7 at a village in Bau.
