Latest news with #SexualOffencesAgainstChildrenAct
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Retired driving instructor charged with sexual assault
A former driving school instructor was accused of allegely committeing physical sexual offences againts a teenage girl at a driving school at Kampung Paloh here. IPOH: A former driving school instructor has been charged at the Sessions Court here for alleged sexual assault against a teenage girl last month. Lim Chin Leong, 60, pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act before judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason on Friday (Aug 1). He was alleged to have touched the 17-year-old victim's hand and thigh at a driving school in Kampung Paloh on July 7 at 10am. If convicted, he could face imprisonment for up to 20 years and be subjected to whipping. He could also be put under police surveillance for up to three years at the end of his sentence. Deputy Public Prosecutor Qurratu'aini Khalifah proposed to the court to set bail at RM20,000 and for the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and to stay away from the victim. Lawyer R. Rajasegaran, who represented the accused, pleaded for a lower bail as the accused is no longer working and is being taken care of by his accountant daughter, who earns about RM3,000 monthly. Jean Sharmila ordered the bail to be set at RM8,000 and for the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month and to stay away from the victim. She set Sept 12 for mention.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Do not mistake grooming as teenage infatuation, says Wanita MCA chief
THE recent case involving a 14-year-old girl who went missing and was found four days later with a 47-year-old man, referred to as her 'boyfriend', is deeply troubling. Wanita MCA expresses relief that the girl was found and appears physically unharmed. However, the nature of her disappearance raises serious concerns about child grooming and possible sexual exploitation. This must not be mistaken for a mere teenage infatuation. It is a matter involving the potential abuse and manipulation of a child by an adult more than three times her age. The authorities must urgently secure an interim order to prevent any further contact between the suspect and the child. This is essential to ensure her safety and emotional well-being. The presence of visible kiss marks suggests clear signs of grooming and inappropriate behaviour. Wanita MCA urges the authorities to pursue charges under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act without leniency. At 14, a child is not legally or emotionally capable of giving informed consent. There is a real possibility that she may have been coerced or psychologically manipulated.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
Cosmetics marketing assistant charged with sexually abusing stepdaughters
ALOR GAJAH: A cosmetics marketing assistant was charged in the Sessions Court here today with committing physical and non-physical sexual abuse against his two stepdaughters, aged five and six, since May. The accused, a 27-year-old divorcee, pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed trial before judge Aiza Khairuddin. For the first and second charges, he was accused of physically abusing the two girls in a bedroom and bathroom of a house here at night between May 11 and July 5. He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017, which provides for a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction. The accused also faces another charge under Section 15(a)(i) of the same Act for non-physical abuse by exposing his genitals to the two victims in the kitchen of the same house on the same dates. If found guilty, this section carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both. Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Ali Hussain appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by Mohd Anif Rafih. The prosecution proposed bail at RM20,000 for all charges with one surety, along with conditions that the accused must report to the nearest police station once a month during the first week and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, including the victims. However, Mohd Anif requested that bail be set at RM12,000, citing his client's low income of RM2,000 a month as an online marketing assistant for cosmetic products. "The accused is also financially supporting both victims and his biological child, aged two, who is currently under the care of his mother in Pendang, Kedah. "My client has no objection to the additional bail conditions and promises not to disturb the victims," he said. The court then set bail at RM15,000 with one surety and imposed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution. Mention has been fixed for Aug 25.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
Cosmetics marketing assistant charged with sexual abuse of stepdaughters
ALOR GAJAH: A cosmetics marketing assistant was charged in the Sessions Court here today with committing physical and non-physical sexual abuse against his two stepdaughters, aged five and six, since May. The accused, a 27-year-old divorcee, pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed trial before judge Aiza Khairuddin. For the first and second charges, he was accused of physically abusing the two girls in a bedroom and bathroom of a house here at night between May 11 and July 5. He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOACA) 2017, which provides for a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction. The accused also faces another charge under Section 15(a)(i) of the same Act for non-physical abuse by exposing his genitals to the two victims in the kitchen of the same house on the same dates. If found guilty, this section carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both. Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Ali Hussain appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by Mohd Anif Rafih. The prosecution proposed bail at RM20,000 for all charges with one surety, along with conditions that the accused must report to the nearest police station once a month during the first week and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, including the victims. However, Mohd Anif requested that bail be set at RM12,000, citing his client's low income of RM2,000 a month as an online marketing assistant for cosmetic products. "The accused is also financially supporting both victims and his biological child, aged two, who is currently under the care of his mother in Pendang, Kedah. "My client has no objection to the additional bail conditions and promises not to disturb the victims," he said. The court then set bail at RM15,000 with one surety and imposed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution. Mention has been fixed for Aug 25.
New Straits Times
23-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Pakistani man in tears after charged with sodomising, sexually assaulting boys
SHAH ALAM: A Pakistani man wept in court after he was slapped with charges of sodomy and physical sexual assault on three male teenagers and a boy between April and June this year. After proceedings ended, Muhammad Hassan, clad in a cream-coloured kurta and handcuffed in the dock, cried uncontrollably as he spoke to an interpreter in Urdu, saying he wanted to contact his family in Pakistan. He managed to calm down before he was escorted out of the courtroom by policemen. Earlier, the 24-year-old unemployed was charged with two counts of sodomy, two counts of sexual assault and one robbery on the four victims, aged between 8 and 19. The troubled-looking Hassan had the charges against him read out in Urdu by an interpreter, who told the court that he understood and claimed trial to all of it before judge Norazlin Othman. Hassan was charged with two counts of committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature against the will of two teenage boys aged 15 and 19. He allegedly committed the offences at about 10.05pm at a forest area next to Jalan Kota Raja in Section 27 on June 26, and at about 1.30pm at a hall in the same area on April 18. The charges under Section 377C of the Penal Code carries a jail term not less than five years and a maximum 20-years and whipping upon conviction. He was also charged with robbing the 19-year-old of RM230 and had threatened to cause harm before fleeing the scene. The charge under Section 392 of the code provides a jail term up to 14-years, with a fine or whipping upon conviction. On two other counts, he was charged with sexually assaulting a minor aged 8 by hugging him and touching his private parts with sexual intent at a playground at a flat area in Section 28 in early June. The other charge read he had committed sexual assault by rubbing his genitals on the anus of a 13-year-old boy at 1.30pm at a shrub area near a school field at Persiaran Kuala Langat in Section 27 on May 27. Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act carries a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Sofea Jaysal and Ruthra Raj Selvarajoo did not offer bail and asked the court to set a date for document submission. Hassan, who did not have a legal representation, pleaded through the interpreter to be provided with a court-appointed lawyer. He had said he did not know how to secure a lawyer while in prison and he has no family and friends in Malaysia that could help him with that. To this, the judge told Hassan to speak to the case's investigating officer who will guide him on appointing a lawyer. Norazlin set Sept 23 for mention with the presence of an Urdu interpreter, the appointment of a lawyer and document submission. On July 9, Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said a Pakistani man wante d for allegedly sodomising and molesting several boys was arrested at Durian Burung in Baling, Kedah just before he attempted to flee the country. Iqbal said the suspect had gone into hiding in a rubber estate where his friend, a 43-year-old Pakistani man, worked as a rubber tapper. Police launched a hunt for the suspect after receiving reports of the alleged sexual assaults, involving boys aged between 9 and 19, which took place at Sections 27 and 28 here. The suspect's modus operandi was to seek help from the victims before taking them to a secluded area, where he would sodomise or molest them.
