Religious Study Centre Chairman Pleads Not Guilty To Sexual Assault And Molestation Charges

SEREMBAN, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The chairman of a private religious study centre pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to three counts of committing physical sexual assault against a teenage girl between March and August this year.

Mohd Hafidz Eshak, 44, entered his plea after the charges were read out separately before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam.

According to the charges, he was accused of committing physical sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl at a house in Bandar Dataran Segar and a private religious centre in Port Dickson between 3 pm and 11 pm from early March to Aug 28.

He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and caning, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi proposed bail at RM50,000 for each charge with additional conditions of not tampering with the victim and witnesses, and reporting to the nearest police station every month.

However, Mohd Hafidz’s lawyers Datuk Hanif Hassan and Nur Haifa Husna Zuhaimi, requested a lower amount, arguing that the accused is the chairman of a private school that operates on funds from the public and Baitulmal assistance.

"This means it is not a profit-making institution but relies on the goodwill of the community and state religious authorities. The accused will also be bailed by his staff. Additionally, he is a resident of Port Dickson, and is married and settled there, so there is no risk of him absconding.

"I would also like to correct the perception about this case. It has nothing to do with the operations or charges against any party of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holding (GISBH)," he said.

Mohamad Kamil then set bail at RM12,000 for all the charges with one surety, ordered the accused to surrender his passport, refrain from interfering with the victim and witnesses, as well as report to the police station every month.

He then scheduled Oct 29 for the submission of documents and a medical report.

Previously, at the Port Dickson Magistrate's Court, the accused also pleaded not guilty to a charge of molesting a 19-year-old female trainee teacher at the same educational centre on the evening of Aug 18.

The charge, under Section 354 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine, or caning, or any two penalties, upon conviction.

Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani set bail at RM4,000 with one surety, with the additional condition that the accused refrain from tampering with the victim or prosecution witnesses. The next case mention was set for Oct 17.

-- BERNAMA