Teacher pleads not guilty to outraging modesty of pupils

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The accused is being escorted by a policeman to the court.

MIRI: An English teacher of a primary school in Batu Niah near here, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here yesterday to three charges of outraging the modesty of two of his eight-year-old pupils.

The accused, 40, was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and punishable under Section 14 of the same Act, read together with Section 16 of the same Act.

Section 14 of the Act provides for jail term not exceeding 20 years and/or whipping while Section 16 provides for additional jail term not exceeding five years and whipping of not less than two strokes for each charge, upon conviction.

Based on the brief facts of the first case, the accused allegedly outraged the modesty of an eight-year-old girl by caressing her vagina, for sexual purposes.

He allegedly committed the offence in mid-March this year in a classroom of the primary school in Batu Niah.

In the second case (two counts), he allegedly committed similar offence on another eight-year-old girl, by caressing her vagina, for sexual purposes.

The two offences were committed between January and March this year and between July 10 and November 2017 in a classroom at the same school.

Earlier, DPP Aftal Mariz applied for trial as the accused had pleaded not guilty, and requested for trial.

Aftal also requested that the accused be denied bail for fear that he (accused) would be a threat to the victims and witnesses.

If the court were to allow bail, Aftal proposed a deposit of RM50,000 for each charge.

The prosecution’s application was, however, objected by counsel for the accused on grounds that after being arrested, he had never been in contact with the victims.

Judge Steve Ritikos granted the application and set five days (Sept 3 to 7) for further hearing of the first case.

The accused was then released on RM12,000 cash bail with two local sureties pending hearing.

As for the second case, the judge set Sept18 to 28 for trial and released him on RM15,000 cash bail with two local sureties.