SEREMBAN: The Sessions Court here has fixed Dec 18 to hear the outcome of a representation filed by a 45-year-old counselling teacher accused of physical sexual assault against two pupils and for possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Judge Surita Budin set the date on Wednesday (Nov 19) after deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi told the court the prosecution had yet to receive a reply on the representation filed by the defence earlier.
"It is coming to a year since this case was mentioned, and the Dec 18 date is final," judge Surita stressed.
Mohd Kharulnizam Muslin had claimed trial to all three charges on Feb 7.
For the first and second charges, he is accused of committing physical sexual assault against two 11-year-old boys at a school in Seremban 2. The alleged incidents occurred in the counselling room in May and early September 2023.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and caning upon conviction.
For the third charge, he is accused of possessing 180 photographs and clips of children being sexually abused on his laptop at a house in Seremban on Dec 12, 2023.
This charge, under Section 10 of the same Act, carries a penalty of up to five years' jail, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.
The accused, who was represented by Mohamad Zahid Ahmad, is out on RM30,000 bail.
