SEREMBAN: A 47-year-old teacher has been ordered by the Sessions Court here to enter his defence against a charge of committing physical sexual assault on a 16-year-old male student.
Judge Surita Budin ruled that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against Norisyam Mohd Aris at the close of its case.
"After perusing witness statements and exhibits and upon maximum evaluation, the court finds that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against the accused.
"The accused is hereby ordered to enter his defence to the charge," she said.
Norisyam was charged with committing the offence in a room of a fully residential school in a district here around 10.25am on Nov 1, 2022.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Offenders can be jailed up to 20 years and whipped upon conviction.
Surita then told the accused that he had three options to proceed.
These were to give sworn evidence from the witness box, to give an unsworn statement from the dock or to remain silent.
Norisyam said he would be giving sworn evidence from the witness box.
Judge Surita then fixed Aug 17 and 19 for trial.
