Ex-imam charged with sexual assault on neighbours’ daughters

The 72-year-old man is alleged to have committed the offence on the girls by touching and inserting his finger into the vagina of the girls.

KUALA LUMPUR: A 72-year-old former imam of a surau in Ampang here was charged at the Sessions Court today with committing physical sexual assault on three underage girls, who are daughters of his neighbours, early this month.

Wan Zakaria Wan Dollah, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before judge Syafeera Mohd Said.

The father of five is alleged to have committed the offence on the three girls, two of whom are siblings, by touching and inserting his finger into the vagina of two of the girls, aged seven and nine, at his home in Ampang between 4pm and 5pm on Sept 8.

The charge under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping, if convicted.

The court allowed Wan Zakaria, who is also a former security guard, bail of RM10,000 in one surety and ordered him not to disturb the victims and witnesses and to report to the nearest police station on the first week each month until the case is settled.

The judge set Oct 31 for remention of the case.

Earlier, Wan Zakaria, clad in a black jubah and kopiah, appeared calm on the witness stand.

While being escorted from the lock-up to the courtroom, he did not bother to hide his face and even smiled at the photographers who were taking his picture.

It is learnt that the three girls had gone to the accused’s house to find a cat, which they believed had entered the house, before the physical sexual assault allegedly occurred.

One of the girls then told her aunt who lodged the police report. -FMT