Religious teacher pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges involving 16‑year‑old boy in Ipoh
IPOH, Sept 28 — A religious teacher, known as an ustazah, at a national secondary school was charged at the Sessio...
IPOH, September 28 — Haslina Abu Bakar, a 48-year-old religious teacher and mother of six, appeared before the Sessions Court in Ipoh, charged with three counts of physical sexual assault against a 16-year-old male student that occurred two years ago. Ustazah Haslina pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include kissing the boy on the mouth for sexual purposes, hugging the victim, and having him touch her chest.
The alleged assaults took place in the Islamic Education room of a national secondary school in Kinta, around 3:30 pm. The charges under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carry up to 20 years in prison and caning upon conviction. The Deputy Public Prosecutor, Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin, refused bail, citing the non-bailable nature of the offences, the severity of the case as the accused was the victim's teacher, and the fact that the student no longer attends the same school.
However, Haslina's lawyer, Amira Sofea An-Nur Ahmad, requested minimum bail, citing the accused's responsibilities as a mother to six children, both in school and pursuing higher education, as well as her medical conditions and financial dependence. The court granted Haslina bail of RM10,000 with one surety, and the matter will be heard again on October 28.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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