SEREMBAN: A warden from an Al-Quran study centre has been sentenced to six years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to charges of committing physical sexual assault, sodomy, and unnatural carnal sex against two boys between 2023 and January 2024.
Judge Datin Surita Budin handed down the sentence against Mohd Khairi Fitri Baharom, 38, on Thursday (June 12) after the three charges were read separately and ordered him to serve the prison sentence starting from the date of his arrest on May 25.
Surita also ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling and police supervision for one year after completing his prison sentence.
According to the charges, Mohd Khairi Fitri was accused of committing physical sexual assault against a 12-year-old boy between December 15 and 20, 2023, in a warden's room at the study centre in Jempol.
He was accused of sodomising the same victim again around 10.30pm on January 7, 2025, and committing unnatural carnal sex against a 10-year-old between April and December 2024 at the same location.
The offences were charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and caning if convicted.
He was also charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent, which carries a prison sentence of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years and caning if convicted.
The accused, who was not represented by a lawyer during the appeal process, requested that the court impose the lightest possible sentence on the grounds that he still had his mother to care for.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni requested a proportionate sentence be imposed, given that the offences involved children and the accused was an individual responsible for their care and safety.
"The accused abused his power and committed sexual harassment against them (the victims). Therefore, a proportionate sentence is requested as a lesson for offences against vulnerable children who can be exploited by anyone," she said.
Mohd Khairi Fitri pleaded not guilty to 12 other similar charges against the same victim and five other children from around 2024 to January 24, 2025, at the same location and a house in Jalan Air Melana in Kuala Pilah.
The court set July 14 for the next mention of the case and appointment of a lawyer. – Bernama
