An ustazah (female religious teacher) at a national secondary school in Ipoh was charged at the Sessions Court with three counts of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student two years ago.
According to the charges, Haslina Abu Bakar allegedly kissed the boy on the mouth for sexual purposes in November 2024. A month later, she did a similar act by hugging the victim.
As for the third charge, Haslina was accused of making the victim touch her chest for sexual purposes in November of the same year, reported Harian Metro.
All of the alleged offences were done in an Islamic Education classroom at around 3.30pm.
Granted RM1,000 bail
Haslina, who has six children of her own, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges framed under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
If convicted, she faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and whipping.
No bail was offered by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin, who argued that the alleged offences were non-bailable. She also said the victim no longer attends the same school as Haslina.
Defence lawyer Amira Sofea An-Nur Ahmad requested minimal bail, telling the court that Haslina has to care for six children aged between eight and 22 and is the family’s breadwinner.
Amira Sofea also said Haslina suffers from high cholesterol and migraines, while her husband has health problems of his own too.
“She is now working at another school far away from the victim, has a good service record as a teacher, is a permanent employee, and has no previous criminal record,” she added.
The court allowed Haslina to be released on RM10,000 bail with one surety and set Oct 28 for case mention and submission of documents.
