SEREMBAN: The defence team for a religious teacher facing three charges of committing physical sexual assault on a child told the Sessions Court here they will be filing a representation to review the charges.
Datuk Hanif Hassan, who represented 44-year-old Mohd Hafidz Eshak told Judge Surita Budin on Monday (Feb 17) that his team would file the representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers this week.
Mohd Hafidz had claimed trial when charged in September last year.
He allegedly committed the offences against the girl in March, June and August last year at a house and a religious centre in Port Dickson.
The girl was 13 years and nine months old when the first offence was allegedly committed.
The accused, who was the chairman of the religious centre, was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and caning upon conviction.
Earlier, Hanif told the court that his team had also filed a representation related to another charge faced by the same accused at a Port Dickson Magistrate's Court but had yet to receive a reply.
"We have been waiting for the reply to the representation we filed in October in relation to the charge at a PD Magistrate's Court.
"We will now go ahead and file representations for both cases," he said.
Mohd Hafidz Eshak had also claimed trial at the magistrate’s court to a charge of using criminal force with the intention to molest a teacher undergoing practical training at a religious centre.
He allegedly committed the offence against the 19-year-old victim at the centre at around 6.40pm on Aug 18 last year.
Judge Surita then told the defence team to file the representations separately so that the case can proceed.
She then fixed March 18 to hear the outcome of the representation.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi prosecuted.
