KOTA TINGGI: A former deputy youth chief of a political party in Mersing was charged at the Kota Tinggi Sessions Court today (Oct 29) with nine counts of physical sexual assault and sodomy involving six teenage boys between 2017 and last March.
The accused, Zuraidi Mazlan, 37, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before judge Haida Farizal Abu Hassan.
Zuraidi was charged with seven counts of physical sexual assault involving four boys aged 14, 15 and 16, by touching their bodies and instructing one of them to perform oral sex on him, among others.
The charges under Section 14(a) and Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carry a maximum penalty of 20 years jail and whipping upon conviction.
Zuraidi was also charged with committing unnatural sex by sodomising two 14-year-old twins without their consent.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Khairuddin Khalid prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.
Ahmad Khairuddin suggested a bail of RM20,000 for each charge with additional bail conditions.
Zuraidi appealed for a reduction as he had to support his mother, stepfather and a school-going child.
The court then set bail at RM5,000 for each charge, totalling RM45,000, with additional conditions.
The court fixed Dec 11 for mention, including document submission and the appointment of a lawyer.