KUCHING: A boarding school teacher was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday (Jan 19) on two counts of sexually assaulting a male student last year.
The 37-year-old pleaded not guilty before Judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar to the charges framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017 and read together with Section 16 of the same Act.
According to both charges, he was charged with physically sexually assaulting a 15-year-old male student by touching his genitals on two separate occasions.
He is alleged to have committed the offence in the warden’s room at a boarding school in Kuching, between October and December 10 last year.
During case mention, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng did not offer any bail as it was not a bailable offence.
However, the prosecution took into account that the accused was still a civil servant performing his duties, and offered a cash bail of RM20,000 with two local sureties and to report to the nearest police station every month.
The accused, represented by counsel Simon Siah, requested that bail be granted as his client is currently working temporarily at the education office which requires him to go to work every day.
In addition, the man is also the breadwinner of the family who needs to support his 10-year-old son.
The court then allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM10,000 (without deposit) with two local sureties and to report to the nearest police station every month.
Noorhisham has fixed Feb 16 for case management.
