{
  "id": 2966055,
  "title": "Tahfiz teacher charged with sexually assaulting two pupils",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/tahfiz-teacher-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-two-pupils",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T06:58:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1517739/tahfiz-teacher-charged-sexually-assaulting-two-pupils"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 35-year-old teacher at a religious school in Kuala Lumpur has been charged with sexually assaulting two young male pupils, according to prosecutors. The accused, Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin, pleaded not guilty to four counts of the alleged offences committed between July and August 2026. The charges under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carry severe penalties, including up to 20 years imprisonment and caning for the primary offences, and an additional five-year prison term and caning for a secondary charge. The deputy public prosecutor deemed the accused a flight risk and a potential threat to the victims, refusing bail and setting a high RM30,000 surety for the remaining charges. The madrasah where the incidents are alleged to have occurred has terminated the teacher's employment immediately. The court heard that the accused's lawyer argued for bail to support his elderly parents, noting his immediate dismissal from the school. The matter is scheduled to return to court on October 5.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: A 35-year-old tahfiz teacher pleaded not guilty in the Ampang Sessions Court today to four counts of sexually assaulting two male pupils at a religious school in Taman Keramat.",
  "key_points": [
    "35-year-old teacher Muhammad Ilyas Jamaludin charged with sexual assaults.",
    "Accused pleaded not guilty to four counts between July and August 2026.",
    "Madrasah terminated employment immediately; bail denied with RM30,000 surety."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Tahfiz teacher in Ampang pleads not guilty to four sexual assault charges on pupils",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/tahfiz-teacher-in-ampang-pleads-not-guilty-to-four-sexual-assault",
        "published": "2026-08-24T07:46:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}