KUALA LUMPUR – A couple has pleaded not guilty to abusing eight students of a tahfiz school in Ampang.
Pakistani Muhammad Yaqoob, 32, and wife Norizan Rahim, 52, have one charge each against them.
Yaqoob is charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code that criminalises voluntarily causing hurt with a weapon, and provides a jail term of up 10 years, a fine, or whipping, or any of the punishments upon being found guilty.
Meanwhile, Norizan is charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt. Upon conviction she could be imprisoned for up to one year, a RM2,000 fine, or both.
Free Malaysia Today reported that both accused allegedly committed their crimes at a house in Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Ampang between March 9 and April 23.
Yaqoob was allowed bail for RM5,000 with two sureties, and he is required to report to the nearest police station every month, while his wife was allowed bail at RM2,000.
The police last week raided the school, which the couple ran illegally, and rescued eight male students aged between seven and 15.
All the children rescued claimed abuse from the couple, with one alleging he was punched in the head by Yaqoob, while his wife slapped him four times.
Police discovered old and new bruises on the boy. – The Vibes, May 6, 2021
