MELAKA: A 38-year-old religious school teacher from Jasin claimed trial at the Sessions Court in Ayer Keroh here for sexually assaulting a male student.
The accused, Muhammad Aiezad Asni, entered his plea before Judge Rohatul Akmar Abdullah on Friday (May 30).
The accused had allegedly committed sexual assault on a 15‐year‐old boy by rubbing the victim’s genital area for sexual purposes.
The alleged act took place in the warden’s room of a boys’ dormitory at a school in the Jasin district, at about 5am on May 23.
The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and may also be subjected to whipping, upon conviction.
Earlier, the Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Nazrin Ali Rahim suggested a sum of RM30,000 as bail.
The prosecution also requested additional conditions, including a prohibition on the accused from contacting witnesses and to surrender his international passport.
The accused's lawyer, Farriz Minarwan Basarudin pleaded for a lower bail amount on the grounds that his client is supporting family members as well as his ageing parents.
The court then granted bail to the accused in the sum of RM9,000 and approved the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
The next mention date is set for July 12.
