IPOH: A senior assistant co-curricular teacher was charged in the Sessions Court here today with two counts of committing physical sexual assault against a student last September.
The accused, Teh Chau Teik, 37, pleaded not guilty after both charges were read out before Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason.
According to the first charge, the man was accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old female student with the intention of sexual gratification by hugging her from behind and kissing her on the mouth.
He was accused of committing the act in a primary school classroom in Bandar Baru Sri Klebang, near Chemor, here at 6.40am on Sept 11.
For the second charge, the accused, who also serves at the Kinta Utara District Education Office (PPD), was accused of committing the same act against the same victim in another classroom at the same school at 6.40am on Sept 26.
For both charges, the teacher was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and whipping, if convicted.
The charge was also read together with Section 16 of the same act, which provides for an additional penalty of five years imprisonment and not less than two strokes of the rotan.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Qurratu'aini Khalifah offered bail of not less than RM50,000 to the accused, as well as additional conditions deemed appropriate by the court.
However, lawyer S.Teeban Kummar, representing the accused, requested the court to allow a minimum bail on the grounds that his client, who earns RM7,000 a month, needed to support his mother and three younger siblings.
"His mother is 61-year-old while one of his siblings is mentally disabled.
"The accused also has high blood pressure and diabetes, besides having cooperated well with the police throughout the investigation process," he said.
The court then allowed bail of RM7,000 with one surety, with additional conditions to report to the police station every month and not to interfere with the victim until the case is completed.
The court also fixed Jan 17 next year for mention.