SEREMBAN: A fourth teacher assistant from a madrasah in Kuala Pilah has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to six charges of sexually assaulting four boys aged between 10 and 13 years at the centre.
Muhammad Fawzun Azim Ismail, 20 pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Judge Datin Surita Budin.
He was charged with committing the offences at the madrasah in 2023.
The accused faced four charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and two charges under Section 14(b) of the same legislation.
Both provisions carry a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi told the court that the prosecution was not offering bail to the accused.
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She added that if bail was granted, the proposed amount was RM30,000 for each charge.
Nurul Balkis also requested that if bail was allowed, the accused should not contact the victims or witnesses, report to the nearest police station once a month, surrender his passport to the court, and be easily reachable.
Muhammad Fawzun, who was unrepresented, asked the court for a lower amount as he was pursuing a course at a government skills centre.
However, when Surita asked for proof, the accused was unable to provide any.
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She then told the accused's father, who was also present, to write to the court and provide proof that his son was studying at the centre to enable the court to consider a lower bail later.
She said until this was done, the court could not consider a lower bail as requested.
Surita then fixed bail at RM12,000 for each charge with one surety and fixed Oct 30 for remention and to allow the accused to engage counsel.
She also granted the other applications made by the prosecution.
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On Thursday (Sept 19), three other teacher assistants at the same centre also claimed trial to 14 charges of sexually assaulting five children aged between nine and 11.
Muhammad Habib Noh Mohd Zairi, 21, Muhammad Khunais Fathie Khabil, 20, and Ahmad Nadzful Izham Azizan, 22, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before Judge Surita.
Muhammad Habib Noh faced four charges under Section 14(a) while Muhammad Khunais faced six charges and Ahmad Nadzful faced three.
Muhammad Habib was also charged with one count under Section 14(b) of the same legislation.
Last week, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department raided 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan associated with GISB Holdings and rescued 402 children and teenagers, consisting of 201 boys and 201 girls aged from one to 17.
