A RELIGIOUS studies teacher appeared at the Sessions Court in Kota Bharu on Thursday charged with sexually exploiting a fifth-grade pupil through video calls between March and June this year.
Huzaifah Ismail, 27, entered a plea of not guilty after the amended charges were read out before Judge Tengku Shahrizan Tuan Lah.
Under the first amended charge, Huzaifah is accused of engaging in sexual communication via a mobile phone with an 11-year-old girl in Kubang Kerian between 13 March and 11 May.
The charge is framed under Section 11(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 27 of the same act. A conviction under this section carries a maximum prison term of three years.
Two additional amended charges allege that Huzaifah committed non-physical sexual misconduct against the same child at the same location, once at 4.18 a.m. on 21 June and again at 6 p.m. on 26 June.
These charges fall under Section 15(a)(ii) of the same act, which stipulates a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mazlan handled the prosecution, while Huzaifah was represented by lawyer Nik Mohd Naqib Mohamad Noor. Siti Hajar opposed bail, citing the accused’s role as the victim’s Quran teacher as a factor in the court’s decision.
The court denied bail, and the case has been fixed for a further mention on 8 December 2025.- December 4, 2025
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