Teacher charged with 10 counts of sexually assaulting pupils in Mukah

MUKAH, Aug 28 — A 56-year-old teacher has been charged in the Mukah Magistrate’s Court today with 10 counts of sexually assaulting female pupils between 2022 and 2024.

Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the accused, who was a teacher at a primary school here at the time of the alleged offences, was accused of committing the offences against 10 girls while in a position of trust as their teacher.

“The alleged offences took place in the school’s science laboratory and classrooms,” he said in a statement.

Rizal said a police report was lodged by a secondary school counselling teacher in Mukah on August 7 after receiving a complaint from one of the alleged victims.

“Following the report, a team from the Mukah District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division arrested the teacher for investigation and further action,” he said.

The accused was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.

If convicted under Section 14(a), he faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping. Section 16(1) provides for an additional maximum five-year jail term and at least two strokes of whipping.

The accused, who was represented by a lawyer, did not enter a plea.

The court granted bail of RM2,000 for each charge, totalling RM20,000, with two local sureties. The accused has since paid the bail.

The case will be mentioned again on October 20. — The Borneo Post