Latest news with #DatinSuritaBudin
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Five family members granted bail in teen kidnapping case
SEREMBAN: The High Court here today allowed the bail application of five family members charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl in April. Their lawyer, T. Harpal Singh, informed Sessions Court judge Datin Surita Budin of the High Court's decision, which was made after a review of the initial bail rejection. On May 14, the Sessions Court had denied bail to the five accused: D. Sasveena, 31; T. Boharaj, 32; Farhin Muhamad Ariffin, 23; and siblings P.K. Koshenn Kumar, 21, and P.K. Siveeshinaa, 23. Harpal said the High Court allowed bail of RM15,000 for each of the accused, with two sureties from among family members. The court also imposed five additional conditions: the accused must surrender their passports to the court and must not contact the victim or any prosecution witnesses. Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni told the court that all documents had been handed over to the defence, except for the closed-circuit television forensic report, the accused's mobile phone analysis, and the victim's medical report. According to the charge, the five allegedly acted in concert to abduct the teenage girl with the intent of demanding a RM2 million ransom. The offence was allegedly committed at 5.45pm on April 10 in front of a hair salon on Jalan S2 B10, Uptown Avenue Seremban 2. They were charged under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a mandatory jail term of not fewer than 30 years and whipping upon conviction. The court set Aug 5 for the next case mention to facilitate document submission. On April 14, it was reported that police shot dead a man in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang, believed to be involved in the kidnapping case.
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Teacher to enter defence over alleged sexual assault of student
SEREMBAN: The Sessions Court ordered a teacher to enter his defence on a sexual assault charge involving a 13-year-old female student in a school three years ago. Judge Datin Surita Budin made the decision after finding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused, 47, based on witness testimonies, exhibits, and written submissions from both parties. "The court has decided that the prosecution has successfully proven a prima facie case for the charge under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act," she said. The section deals with the sexual assault of a child, an offence punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and two strokes of the rotan. "The accused is called to enter his defence and given three options: to give sworn testimony from the witness stand, to make an unsworn statement, or to remain silent," she added. Lawyer Nor Azleen Khairina A Aziz informed the court that her client chose to give sworn testimony. According to the charge, the accused touched the girl's waist for sexual purposes on the evening of Aug 4, 2022, at a secondary school in Senawang. The court set July 18 for mention and Aug 1 and 14 for trial dates.
New Straits Times
13-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Teacher charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old student
SEREMBAN: A secondary school teacher was charged in the Sessions Court here today with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student. Muhamad Asyraf Ahmad, 36, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Datin Surita Budin. According to the charge sheet, the teacher is accused of molesting the student. The alleged offence occurred between approximately 9am and 9.20am on May 17, inside a car parked near kilometre 242.1 on the North–South Expressway (Plus), northbound in the Rembau district. He is charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act. If found guilty, he faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping. Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni proposed bail at RM20,000 with one surety. She also suggested several additional conditions: monthly reporting to the police, prohibition from contacting prosecution witnesses or the victim, and surrender of the accused's passport. Unrepresented, the accused pleaded for a reduced bail due to financial obligations, adding that he is the sole provider for two children and his ailing parents, on top of other financial commitments. He also informed the court that he has been assigned to the Tampin District Education Office for a temporary posting since last week. The court granted bail at RM12,000 with one surety and imposed all of the prosecution's requested bail conditions. The case is scheduled for mention on July 15.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- The Sun
Warden at Al-Quran learning centre sentenced to six years jail for sodomising two boys
SEREMBAN: A warden from an Al-Quran study center was sentenced to six years in prison and two strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to charges of committing physical sexual assault, sodomy, and unnatural carnal sex against two boys, between 2023 and last January. Judge Datin Surita Budin handed down the sentence against Mohd Khairi Fitri Baharom, 38, after the three charges were read separately and ordered him to serve the prison sentence starting from the date of his arrest on May 25. Surita also ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counseling and police supervision for one year after completing his prison sentence. According to the charges, Mohd Khairi Fitri was accused of committing physical sexual assault against a 12-year and four-month-old boy around 11 pm between Dec 15 and 20, 2023, in a warden's room at the study center in Jempol. He was also accused of sodomising the same victim around 10:30 pm on January 7, 2025, and committing unnatural carnal sex against a 10-year and seven-month-old boy at 5 pm between April and December 2024 at the same location. The offences were charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and read together with Section 16(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and caning if convicted. He was also charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years and caning if convicted. The accused, who was not represented by a lawyer during the appeal process, requested the court impose the lightest possible sentence on the grounds that he still had his mother to care for. Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni then requested a proportionate sentence be imposed given that the offences involved children and the accused was an individual responsible for their care and safety. 'The accused abused his power and committed sexual harassment against them, therefore, a proportionate sentence is requested as a lesson for offences against vulnerable children who can be exploited by anyone,' she said. In addition, Mohd Khairi Fitri pleaded not guilty to 12 other similar charges against the same victim and five other children aged between eight and 12 years and nine months, around 2024 to January 24, 2025, at the same location and a house in Jalan Air Melana in Kuala Pilah. The charges were made under Section 14(a) and Section 14(b) of Act 792 and Section 377C of the Penal Code and the court then set July 14 for the next mention of the case and appointment of a lawyer.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- The Sun
Warden sentenced to six years jail for sodomising two boys
SEREMBAN: A warden from an Al-Quran study center was sentenced to six years in prison and two strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to charges of committing physical sexual assault, sodomy, and unnatural carnal sex against two boys, between 2023 and last January. Judge Datin Surita Budin handed down the sentence against Mohd Khairi Fitri Baharom, 38, after the three charges were read separately and ordered him to serve the prison sentence starting from the date of his arrest on May 25. Surita also ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counseling and police supervision for one year after completing his prison sentence. According to the charges, Mohd Khairi Fitri was accused of committing physical sexual assault against a 12-year and four-month-old boy around 11 pm between Dec 15 and 20, 2023, in a warden's room at the study center in Jempol. He was also accused of sodomising the same victim around 10:30 pm on January 7, 2025, and committing unnatural carnal sex against a 10-year and seven-month-old boy at 5 pm between April and December 2024 at the same location. The offences were charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and read together with Section 16(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and caning if convicted. He was also charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years and caning if convicted. The accused, who was not represented by a lawyer during the appeal process, requested the court impose the lightest possible sentence on the grounds that he still had his mother to care for. Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni then requested a proportionate sentence be imposed given that the offences involved children and the accused was an individual responsible for their care and safety. 'The accused abused his power and committed sexual harassment against them, therefore, a proportionate sentence is requested as a lesson for offences against vulnerable children who can be exploited by anyone,' she said. In addition, Mohd Khairi Fitri pleaded not guilty to 12 other similar charges against the same victim and five other children aged between eight and 12 years and nine months, around 2024 to January 24, 2025, at the same location and a house in Jalan Air Melana in Kuala Pilah. The charges were made under Section 14(a) and Section 14(b) of Act 792 and Section 377C of the Penal Code and the court then set July 14 for the next mention of the case and appointment of a lawyer.
