SEREMBAN: Three teaching assistants-cum-caretakers of a madrasah in Kuala Pilah claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to 14 charges of sexually assaulting five children aged between nine and 11 at the centre.
Muhammad Habib Noh Mohd Zairi, 21, Muhammad Khunais Fathie Khabil, 20, and Ahmad Nadzful Izham Azizan, 22, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before judge Datin Surita Budin.
Muhammad Habib Noh was slapped with four charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, while Muhammad Khunais was hit with six charges and Ahmad Nadzful three.
Muhammad Habib Noh was also charged with one count under Section 14(b) of the same Act.
Both provisions carry a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The three had allegedly committed the offences at the madrasah between 2022 and 2023.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi then told the court that the prosecution was not offering the accused bail but added that if the court allowed one, it should be at RM30,000 for each charge.
Nurul Balkis, who was assisted by Noraziha Asmuni, also said that should the accused be allowed bail, they should not contact the victims or witnesses, and should report at the nearest police station and surrender their passports, if they had one, to the court.
They should also be reachable at all times, she added.
However, the parents and guardians of the accused asked the court for a lower bail as they could not afford the amount proposed by the prosecution.
Judge Surita said she could not allow a low bail amount as the offence was non-bailable.
She then offered the accused a bail of RM12,000 for each offence with one surety and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.
The court fixed Oct 30 for remention and to allow the accused to appoint counsel.
