KUALA LUMPUR: A male teacher has pleaded not guilty at the Ampang Sessions Court to two charges of committing physical sexual assault against a female pupil.
On Thursday (June 11), Mohd Saufi Jama'in, 45, is accused of committing the acts against a nine-year-old girl, with whom the accused had a relationship of trust as her English teacher.
The offence was allegedly committed at the teacher's dining area in a school canteen near here at 9am on May 5 and May 7.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16 of the same Act.
The offence is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and caning, while Section 16 carries an additional penalty of up to five years' imprisonment and no less than two strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Hairuliqram Hairuddin offered bail of RM20,000 with one surety for both charges, along with additional conditions that the accused must report to the nearest police station once a month and refrain from contacting or disturbing the victim and tampering with witnesses.
The accused's lawyer, Francis Pereira, requested bail of RM4,000 for each charge, citing that his client, who has worked as a teacher for nearly 20 years, supports four children and also suffers from hypertension.
"The accused has no criminal record and has never faced disciplinary action throughout his service. He has fully cooperated with police and poses no flight risk," he said.
Judge Ho Kwong Chin granted bail of RM12,000 with one surety for both charges, allowed the additional conditions requested by the prosecution, and set Aug 4 for case mention. – Bernama
