Imam charged with exposing himself to two girls

MELAKA: An Imam of a surau at Limbongan claimed trial at the Session Courts here to three charges of going nude before two young girls.

The 60-year-old allegedly committed the offence by exposing himself to a four-year-old and 13-year-old at the surau's compound on May 28.

He faced two charges on Tuesday (June 14) framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping, if convicted, while Section 15(a)(i) of the same Act which carries a jail term up to ten years and a fine up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.

For the first offence, the accused allegedly committed the sexual offence on the four-year-old victim between 3.30pm to 6pm on May 28 at the surau.

For the second charge, the accused allegedly committed the offence on the 13-year-old victim between 5pm to 5.30pm at the store of the surau on the same day.

For the third offence, the accused allegedly committed the non-physical sexual acts against the two victims on same day.

The charges were read before Judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin while the accused was represented by counsel Muhammad Mustapa.

The court granted the accused bail of RM22,000.

Later at the Magistrate's Court, the accused was charged with having pornographic materials on his mobile phone at the Melaka Tengah police station at 8.45pm on June 2.

The accused claimed trial when the charge under Section 292(a) of the Penal Code was read before Magistrate Mazana Sinin.

The court later granted bail of RM1,000.

Both the Sessions and Magistrate Courts fixed July 17 as the re-mention date.