KOTA KINABALU: A religious teacher (ustaz), who was charged with committing a sexual offence against his tahfiz pupil in a surau, will be tried at the Sessions Court here on January 16-17 next year.
Judge Elsie Primus set the trial date for Abdul Jumat Sapri, 27, when the case came up for pre-trial case management yesterday.
He was alleged to have touched the private parts of the boy, aged 15 years and 11 months, in the surau at a residential area in Putatan at 1.30am on August 4.
The alleged offence is framed under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Abdul Jumat is currently detained in custody, pending disposal of the case.
Meanwhile, three men were jailed for four months by the Sessions Court here yesterday for illegal entry.
Judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentence on Marujun Apas, Zulkifli Marujun and Rosli Karim after they pleaded guilty to separate charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.
The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both and whipping of not more than six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Zulkifli also received a stroke of the cane while others were spared due to their age.
All of the men were also ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department after completing their sentence for their biometrics data to be recorded before deportation.