SEREMBAN: A 44-year-old religious teacher facing three charges of committing physical sexual assault on a child has decided against filing a representation to review the charge.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi told Sessions Court judge Surita Budin that the prosecution did not receive any application from the accused on the matter.
The court was supposed to have heard the outcome of the application on Tuesday (March 18).
On Feb 17, Mohd Hafidz Eshak's lawyer Datuk Hanif Hassan told the court that the accused wished to file a representation in the case.
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 a 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.
When Judge Surita asked the prosecution how many witnesses the prosecution would be calling for the trial, DPP Nurul Balkis said about 10 would be called in.
She also asked about the whereabouts of the alleged victim and was told that the girl was under the care of her parents.
Surita then fixed the trial over three days beginning Sept 22. The accused is out on a RM12,000 bail.
Lawyer Muhammad Wajih Zakwan Hanif represented the accused.
