IPOH: A 39-year-old music teacher attached to a primary school here has claimed trial to two counts of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before Sessions Court Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad yesterday.
According to the charges, he had allegedly touched the girl’s private parts in June this year at about 9.45am at the school’s music room.
For the second offence, he allegedly rubbed his private parts against the victim’s buttocks in July at about 10.30am, also at the school’s music room.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years and also whipping, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah requested the court not to offer bail so that the accused would stay away from the victim.
Defence lawyer Syahrul Nizam Mohd Rabi said his client was married with three children aged between three and nine, and suffered from health issues including heart problems and a low red blood count. He added that the accused’s next appointment at Hospital Batu Gajah is in December.
“When the police carried out investigations in July, my client was given police bail.
“He has been cooperative, and for the hearing he came on his own, without any police escort.
“Being a civil servant, the issue of him running away does not arise, and thus if the bail amount is high, it will affect him and his family,” he said.
Ainul Shahrin set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Dec 20 for mention.
The accused posted bail.
