JOHOR BARU: A 27-year-old religious school teacher has been charged at the Sessions Court here with sodomising a teenage boy on three occasions.
Mohamad Hamzi Mohd Kasmad pleaded not guilty before Sessions judge Siti Noraidi Sulaiman on Thursday (June 15) to three separate charges of sexually assaulting the 16-year-old student.
According to the charge sheet, Mohamad Hamzi was accused of committing physical sexual assault towards the boy at the religious school in Benut, Pontian in July and November last year, as well as in March this year.
The accused, who is also the tahfiz’s hostel warden, was said to have committed the act at a hostel unit at the religious school.
He was charged under Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and caning if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Fadilah Johanuddin asked the court for a bail of RM20,000 with an additional condition where the accused must not harass the victim and witnesses until the court case is completed.
Nor Fadilah also requested for the accused to report himself to the nearest police station and surrender his passport to court.
The accused’s lawyer Omar Kutty Abdul Aziz asked for a lower bail amount by saying that Mohamad Hamzi was a middle income earner.
“His monthly salary is RM1,800 and he has to care for his wife who is currently pregnant with their first child,” he said.
The court set bail at RM18,000 for all three charges with one surety. The judge also allowed the prosecution’s additional requests.
Siti Noraidi also set July 23 for next mention and for the submission of documents.
