Teacher faces 10 charges of sexually assaulting female pupils

 

- NSTP FILE PIC

KUCHING: A male teacher has been charged with 10 counts of sexually assaulting 10 female pupils at a primary school in Mukah between 2022 and 2024.

The 56-year-old accused appeared before Judge Musyiri Peet at the Mukah Sessions Court today. No plea was recorded.

He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.

Section 14(a) carries up to 20 years imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

Section 16(1), which applies to persons in a relationship of trust with the victims, provides for an additional prison term of up to five years and at least two strokes of the cane.

The court granted the accused bail of RM2,000 for each charge, totalling RM20,000, with two sureties. The accused posted bail.

The court Oct 20 for mention.

Meanwhile, Mukah police chief Deputy Superintendent Muhamad Rizal Alias said the accused was teaching at the primary school when the alleged offences occurred.

He said all the victims were pupils at the school and that the alleged offences took place in a science laboratory and classrooms.

Police received a report on Aug 7 from a counsellor at a secondary school in Mukah after the counsellor received a complaint from one of the victims.

Following the report, a team investigated the matter before arresting the accused to assist in investigations and further action, he said in a statement. - NST