A teacher from a government-aided religious school (SABK) in Penang was charged at the Sessions Court here on Friday with eight counts of physical sexual assault and outraging the modesty of several male students between May 2023 and January 2026.
The accused, Ahmad Fahmi Haron, 52, pleaded not guilty after all charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Ooi Sheow Yean.
For the first charge, Ahmad Fahmi was accused of committing physical sexual assault by touching and caressing the private parts of a 15-year-old male student at a school in the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) district between April and May 2024.
The offence was allegedly committed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and can also include whipping upon conviction.
For the second to eighth charges, the accused was alleged to have used criminal force against six male students aged between 13 and 17 in separate incidents.
The alleged offences involved touching the victims’ buttocks, thighs, hands and cheeks, as well as inappropriate contact with their private parts without consent with the intention of outraging their modesty.
The charges were brought under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine, whipping, or any two of the punishments upon conviction.
Ahmad Fahmi was accused of committing the offences at a school room and canteen between May 2023 and January 2026.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Amira Ruzaini Wan Abdul Razak led the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Muhd Nazreev Mohd Najeeb.
During the proceedings, the prosecution did not offer bail due to the nature of the case involving minors. However, the defence requested the court to consider granting bail, stating that the accused had been transferred to the Seberang Perai Utara District Education Office (PPD) and posed no risk of interfering with the victims.
The court later allowed bail of RM45,000 for all charges with one surety.
