MUAR: A motivational camp trainer in Pontian was sentenced to five years in prison and one stroke of the cane in the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old college student last month.
The accused, Matsidi Samad, 46, who has two prior criminal records — one for raping his domestic worker in 2018 and another for sexual abusing his stepdaughter in 2007 — faced charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and caning.
The incident took place on Nov 30 at 7.30pm in a car parked outside a quarters in Taman Soga, Batu Pahat.
According to court documents, the victim, a 17-year-old part-time facilitator working with Matsidi, was in his car with two other facilitators after he offered to drop them off.
She was the last to be dropped off after the ride home.
Upon reaching her residence, Matsidi allegedly prevented her from exiting the vehicle and molested her.
The victim managed to escape and immediately told her friends about the incident, who encouraged her to report it to the police.
Matsidi was arrested the following day at 12.30pm in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
Deputy public prosecutors Danial Munir and Diyana Najihah Muhamed Fauzi handled the case, while Matsidi appeared in court without legal representation.
In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered Matsidi to undergo counselling while incarcerated and imposed two years of police supervision upon his release.