Kota Kinabalu: A 29-year-old religious teacher was charged with two counts of committing physical sexual harassment against an 11-year-old pupil.
The man pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, to the charges against him, Friday.
On the first count, the man is accused of committing the offence by fondling the pupil’s breasts and touching her thighs between 7.30pm and 9.30pm in March 2022 at the Islamic Education Centre, here.
On the second count, he allegedly committed the same offence by inserting his finger into the girl’s private part between 7.30pm and 9.30pm in Jan this year at the same place.
The offence under Section 14(a) and 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The man will face additional punishment under Section 16(1) of the same Act carries a jail term of up to five years, and whipping at least two strokes, on conviction.
The court set March 24 for further mention pending the medical report and the man was released on RM5,000 bail in two local sureties for each charge.
The court also imposed several conditions namely, the man must surrender his passport to the court, to report to the nearest police station every first day of the month and was prohibited from contacting the alleged victim or her family until the trial of this case is over.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus and Najiha Farhana Che Amat appeared for the prosecution while counsel Mohamad Syazwan Shah Mohamad Ali defended the man.
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