SEREMBAN: A 42-year-old pre-school teacher claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to two counts of committing physical sexual assault against an eight-year-old pupil.
T. Muhamad Shazali T. Sharipudin pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar on Wednesday (Aug 12).
He was charged with committing the first offence at 10am on April 1 and the second at 9am on April 3 this year.
Both offences were allegedly committed in the pre-school classroom of a school in Rembau.
The accused 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.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi then offered the accused bail of RM20,000 with one surety.
She also asked the court to order the accused to stay away from the alleged victim and witnesses and to report at the nearest police station once a month until his case was disposed of.
Lawyer for the accused Syed Amirul Syed Edros pleaded for a lower bail as he only earned around RM4,000 a month.
The accused, he said, had also been transferred to the Rembau district education office following the charge.
He said the accused was also not a flight risk and had to provide for his mother.
Judge Tasnim then fixed bail at RM8,000 and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.
She then set Sept 15 for the next mention.
