MUAR: The school bus driver who uploaded video recordings of children in the vehicle and referred to one of them as his “crush” and “favourite” has been charged in the Sessions Court here with two counts of sexual assault.
The 24-year-old man pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday.In the first charge, he was alleged to have committed physical sexual assault on his four-year-old niece on a school bus in Simpang Renggam, Kluang, between 5pm and 6pm, from April to September.
The charge, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for a prison sentence of not more than 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
He was also charged under Section 15(a) (iii) of the same law with committing non-physical sexual assault on a nine-year-old student by repeatedly watching her at the same location and on the same date.
Judge Sayani Mohd Nor allowed the accused bail of RM30,000 with one surety on both charges and also ordered him to report himself to the nearest police station once a month and not to intimidate the victims and witnesses in the case. The court set Oct 10 for mention for the submission of documents, Bernama reported.
Johor prosecution director Abdul Ghafar Ab Latif appeared for the prosecution while the accused was represented by lawyer Umar Zulkarnain.
Last Thursday, a social media user shared a screenshot of a school bus driver’s TikTok post referring to a female student as his “crush” and “favourite”.
Following that, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri instructed an officer from the Child Development Department to file a police report against the bus driver.
On Sept 6, police arrested the bus driver.
