Kuching school teacher claims trial to sexually assaulting Primary 6 girl

KUCHING (Dec 19): A primary school teacher has claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to a charge of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old female pupil.

The 41-year-old man pleaded not guilty when a charge under the Sexual Offences against Children Act (Soaca) 2017 was read to him before Judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar.

The teacher was charged under Section 14(a) of the Soaca 2017, which is punishable under Section 14, and read together with Section 16 of the same Act.

Section 14 of the Act provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and caning, while Section 16 states that if the offender is in a relationship of trust with the child, an additional punishment may be imposed, comprising a prison term of up to five years and up to two strokes of the cane.

According to the charge, the teacher allegedly touched the victim’s breasts and private parts for sexual purposes at the school library during a day in July this year.

The court fixed Jan 23 next year for pre-trial case management and granted the accused bail of RM10,000, deposited, with one local surety.

Deputy public prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Steven Beti.

Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid Kuching Sessions Court lead Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar