SEREMBAN: A 33-year-old madrasah teacher pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to two charges of committing physical sexual assault against a male pupil at a centre in Nilai.
Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin entered his plea after the charges were read to him before Judge Surita Budin.
For the first charge, the accused allegedly committed the act against the victim, who at the time was 12 years old, at the centre in 2023.
For the second charge, he allegedly committed the same act against the victim around 4.30am in February 2024.
The accused was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term not exceeding 20 years and whipping.
Deputy public prosecutor Noraziha Asmuni proposed a RM10,000 bail with one surety for each offence pending remention.
Defence counsel Mohd Zaharudeen Harun informed the court that his team was unaware of the fresh charges against the accused.
"We were here today as the accused had a remention for another case.
"We have been caught unawares and the accused would find it difficult to raise a high bail amount," he said.
Mohd Zaharudeen requested the court to consider using the RM10,000 bail and another RM6,000 bail posted for two other cases for the latest charges.
"My client had stopped working at the madrasah since March and has been employed at another in Kuala Lumpur since June.
"It is my hope that the court can consider the earlier bails posted by my client in other cases as he only earns about RM1,600 a month," he said.
Judge Surita set bail at RM8,000 for each charge and ordered the accused to stay away from the victim.
She explained that the court had no other option but to impose bail as this was a new case and had to be treated separately.
The court fixed Jan 3 for remention.
Muhammad Ilyas, who had on Oct 11 claimed trial to another charge of committing physical sexual assault against a nine-year-old boy, was also ordered to return to court on Jan 3 for the next remention.
He was charged with committing the offence against the victim at the same madrasah in 2023.
He was charged under Section 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term not exceeding 20 years and whipping.
He is currently out on a RM10,000 bail.
