IPOH: An instructor with the Fire and Rescue Department has been charged with eight counts of physical sexual assault and possessing a child sexual abuse image involving a 14-year-old boarding school student.
Muhammad Aidilafifi Muhammad, 28, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason here on Friday (May 8).
He was charged with seven counts under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and one count under Section 10.
The accused, a fire cadet instructor, is said to have committed the offences between early February and May 1 this year in various location including in Parit and Seri Iskandar, Perak Tengah.
The offences are punishable under the same Sections read together with Section 16(1) of the Act.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin proposed bail at RM10,000 for each charge or RM80,000 in total.
Lawyer Ahmad Shamil Azad Abdul Hamid, representing the accused, said his client had cooperated fully with the police and had served with the department for over four years.
He appealed for a lower bail of RM5,000 for each offence, citing his client’s financial situation.
Ahmad Shamil Azad said the accused earns about RM2,500 a month, while his wife is unemployed and currently pursuing her studies.
He added that the accused is also looking after his parents, who are in their 60s, and a 24-year-old sibling.
Judge Jean Sharmila set bail at RM9,000 with one surety for all eight charges.
She also ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and prohibited him from approaching the alleged victim or prosecution witnesses.
