IPOH: A senior assistant co-curricular teacher at a primary school has been charged at the Sessions Court here with sexually harassing a 12-year-old pupil three months ago.
The 37-year-old pleaded not guilty to two charges before judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason yesterday.
For the first charge, he is accused of having performed physical sexual abuse by hugging the girl from behind and kissing her on the mouth at 6.40am on Sept 11 at a classroom in a Chinese primary school.
For the second charge, he is said to have hugged and kissed the victim on the mouth at a different classroom at 6.40am on Sept 26.
For both charges, the teacher was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
This carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail and whipping, if convicted.
The charges against the accused were also framed under Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which stipulates an additional penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and no fewer than two strokes of the rotan upon conviction.
During proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah proposed bail of not lower than RM50,000 for the accused, with additional conditions deemed appropriate by the court.
However, lawyer S. Teeban Kummar, representing the accused, requested the court allow minimum bail on the grounds that his client, who earns RM7,000 a month, needs to support his mother and three younger siblings.
The court then allowed bail of RM7,000 with one surety, and asked the accused to report to the police station every month and to stay away from the victim until the case is completed.
The court then fixed Jan 17 for mention.
