Religious teacher arrested for molesting male student

KOTA KINABALU: A religious school teacher has been nabbed for allegedly molesting a male student in Putatan near here.

Penampang police chief Deputy Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim said the suspect in his 20s was arrested not long after a report was lodged at about 1.48am Tuesday (Aug 6).

"The Form Four student claimed he was sleeping when he felt someone groping his private parts, waking him up, " he said, adding the boy fled after that.

According to him, the victim said the alleged incident happened at about 1.30am Sunday.

"The student did not immediately lodge a police report as he felt ashamed and scared.

"He needed time to think before making a decision, " DSP Haris said.

He said the suspect, who is under remand, was being investigated under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.