SEREMBAN: A 33-year-old madrasah teacher has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two charges of committing physical sexual assault against a male pupil at the centre in Nilai.
Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him before judge Surita Budin.
For the first charge, the accused had allegedly committed the act against the victim, who was aged 12 years and eight months, at the centre in 2023.
For the second charge, he allegedly did the same against the victim at around 4.30am in February this year.
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 told the court the prosecution was offering the accused RM10,000 bail with one surety for each offence pending the next case mention.
His lawyer Mohd Zaharudeen Harun then told the court that his team was not told that the accused would be facing fresh charges.
“We were here today as the accused had another mention for another case.
“We have been caught unawares and the accused will find it difficult to raise a high bail amount,” he said.
Mohd Zaharudeen asked the court if the RM10,000 bail and another RM6,000 bail the accused had posted for two other cases could be used for the latest charges.
“My client stopped working at the madrasah in March and has been employed at another in Kuala Lumpur since June.
“It is my hope that the court can consider the earlier bail posted by my client in other cases as he only earns about RM1,600 a month,” he said.
Judge Surita then set bail at RM8,000 for each charge and ordered the accused to stay away from the victim.
She said the court had no option but to impose bail as this was a new case and as such, had to be treated separately.
The court then fixed Jan 3 for mention.
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 mention.
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 out on RM10,000 bail.
