SETIU, Terengganu – A 42-year-old teacher has been charged in the Sessions Court here with seven counts of physical sexual assault involving two male students, with incidents allegedly taking place in a school toilet, a vehicle, and a house in Besut and Kuala Terengganu.
The accused, identified as Darusalam Ab Rahman, pleaded not guilty after all charges were read before Judge Ahmad Fadhli Mahmud on Wednesday. The case involves two teenage victims aged 15 and 17.
According to the first set of charges, the teacher is accused of communicating with a 17-year-old male student via WhatsApp with the intention of committing or facilitating sexual assault. The alleged communications took place at a house in Kampung Anak Ikan, Besut, during late-night hours between 9.21pm and 2.10am on May 5, May 8, and May 10.
The prosecution stated that these offences fall under Section 12(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOCCA) 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
In addition, the accused faces two separate charges of alleged physical sexual assault involving the same 17-year-old victim. These incidents are said to have occurred inside a car parked in front of a restaurant in Kuala Terengganu at around 9pm, and later in front of a house in Kampung Anak Ikan at about 10pm on May 11. These charges are filed under Section 14(a) of SOCCA 2017, which provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping if convicted.
The court also heard two additional charges involving a 15-year-old student. The accused is alleged to have committed physical sexual assault inside a secondary school toilet in Besut at about 4pm on May 8. These charges are similarly framed under Section 14(a) of the same Act.
Judge Ahmad Fadhli Mahmud allowed bail at RM22,000 for all charges combined, with one surety. The court also imposed strict conditions, requiring the accused to report monthly to the nearest police station and prohibiting any form of contact or interference with prosecution witnesses.
The case has been set for mention and document submission on July 6 at the Besut Sessions Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Akmal Mohd Jazlee led the prosecution, while the accused was represented by a lawyer who declined to be named.
The case has drawn public attention due to the serious nature of the allegations involving minors and the alleged abuse of authority within a school environment. Authorities are expected to continue investigations as the case proceeds through the legal process.
