Teaching assistants in Malaysia claim trial over child sexual assault charges
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The suspects were brought to the court complex in a police van at around 9.10am.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SEREMBAN – Three teaching assistants and caretakers from a madrasah in Kuala Pilah in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state claimed trial in the Sessions Court on Sept 19 to 14 charges of sexually assaulting five children aged between nine and 11.
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 faces four charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, while Muhammad Khunais faces six charges and Ahmad Nadzful three.
Muhammad Habib 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 offences were allegedly committed at the madrasah between 2022 and 2023.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi stated that the prosecution was not offering bail to the accused. She added that if bail were granted, the proposed amount would have been RM30,000 (S$9,100) for each charge.
Ms Nurul Balkis, who was assisted by Ms Noraziha Asmuni, also requested that if bail was allowed, the accused should not contact the victims or witnesses. They would have to report to the nearest police station, and surrender their passports to the court.
The parents and guardians of the accused requested a lower bail amount, as they could not afford the amount proposed by the prosecution.
Judge Surita informed the accused that a low bail amount could not be granted, given the non-bailable nature of the offence. She then set bail at RM12,000 for each offence with one surety and allowed the other conditions requested by the prosecution.
The suspects, brought to the court complex in a police van at around 9.10am, were arrested during the recent Op Global.
On Sept 11, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department raided 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan
