PASIR MAS – A preacher popularly known as “Ustaz Budak” was today charged at the sessions court here with molesting a 13-year-old boy last week.
Syamsul Zaman Sukri, 33, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Badrul Munir Mohd Hamdy in online proceedings.
According to the charge sheet, he allegedly touched the child’s private parts with sexual intent in a bedroom of a house near Kg Sat Tengah in Tanah Merah about 9.45am on August 3.
The charge, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The court did not allow the accused bail, and set September 19 for case mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Hajarul Falenna Itah Abu Bakar prosecuted, while lawyer Ahmad Adha Amir Yasser Amri represented Syamsul Zaman.
The accused faces 12 other sexual criminal charges, with all of the cases still on trial. – Bernama, August 11, 2021
