A PRIMARY school teacher was charged in the Sessions Court in Seremban on Wednesday with two counts of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in a hotel room in Port Dickson in 2023.
The accused, Abdul Halim Ismail, 37, pleaded not guilty before Judge Hazeelia Muhammad after the charges were read out.
According to the charges, Abdul Halim allegedly committed physical sexual abuse against the child around 10 pm on both June 28 and 29, 2023, at a hotel in Port Dickson.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and whipping. Under Section 16(1), he may also face an additional sentence of up to half the maximum imprisonment term and caning.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni did not offer bail, but proposed a high sum should the court exercise discretion. She also revealed that the accused is facing similar charges involving the same victim in the Sessions Courts of Raub, Ipoh, and Melaka since 2023.
Defence lawyer Aliff Aiman Rusli appealed for bail, noting that his client, currently suspended from public service and without income since last year, supports a 78-year-old father and is unmarried. He suggested a bail amount of RM5,000 for the entire case.
The court granted bail at RM10,000 for both charges, with conditions requiring the accused to report monthly to the nearest police station, surrender his passport, and refrain from contacting the victim or witnesses.
The case is set for mention on June 9. - May 7, 2025
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