Tahfiz teacher in Ampang pleads not guilty to four sexual assault charges on pupils

A 35-year-old tahfiz teacher, Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin, appeared in the Ampang Sessions Court on August 24, 2026, to plead not guilty to four sexual assault charges against two male pupils aged 10 and 11 at a religious school in Taman Keramat. The alleged incidents occurred between July and August 2026, according to prosecutors.

The charges, under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, could result in a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and caning for each count, as well as an additional five years' imprisonment and caning for Section 16(1) convictions. A separate charge under Section 15(f) carries a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie denied bail, citing the gravity of the offenses and the risk of the accused intimidating the victims. However, Jamaludin's lawyer, Mohd Zaharudeen Harun, argued that his client needed a RM10,000 bail to support his elderly parents, as he had already been dismissed from his job. Judge Ho Kwong Chin granted bail at RM30,000, with one surety, and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station monthly and avoid contacting or intimidating any witnesses or victims until the case is resolved. The next court appearance is scheduled for October 5, 2026.