MUAR: A medical student from a private university pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to the charge of possessing child pornography videos recorded using a mobile phone in a church toilet last month.
The accused, Desmond Tan Chee Yong, 20, made the plea after the charge was read by the interpreter in front of Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
According to the charge, the eldest of two siblings was accused of possessing child pornography in a church at Sialin Commercial Center at 9pm on June 29.
Therefore, the accused is charged with committing an offense and can be punished under Section 10 of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act (AKKSTKK) 2017, which carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment or a fine of RM10,000 or both, if convicted.
Based on the report, the accused entered the building's third-floor toilet and placed a mobile phone in a red packet.
He then activated the camera and left it in the toilet for an hour before retrieving it.
However, on the day of the incident, one of the victims, who was a child using the toilet, noticed the packet.
The victim was curious about the object in the packet after feeling heat when touching it.
Upon opening it, the victim found a mobile phone with the camera still on and reported it to the management.
Police investigation found that the recording contained footage of nine victims, including five children and four adults, who were showering and using the toilet.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Danial Munir, while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
The court then allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM7,000 with one guarantor and set Aug 27 for a social report, facts, and sentencing.
At the same time, the court ordered the accused to report to Muar District Police Headquarters (IPD) every month until the case is resolved.
Meanwhile, in the Magistrate's Court, the accused, charged under Section 292 of the Penal Code, pleaded guilty to possessing obscene or indecent pictures on the same date and time.
Magistrate Fatin Dalilah Khalid allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM2,000 before the case is mentioned again on the same date as the Sessions Court case.