Religious teacher pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges involving 16‑year‑old boy in Ipoh

IPOH, Sept 28 — A religious teacher, known as an ustazah, at a national secondary school was charged at the Sessions Court here today with three counts of physical sexual assault against a 16-year-old male student two years ago.    

The accused, Haslina Abu Bakar, 48, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges read before Judge Ainul Sharin Mohamad.

According to the first charge, the accused is alleged to have committed physical sexual assault by kissing the boy on the mouth for sexual purposes in November 2024.

On the second charge, the woman is alleged to have committed the same act by hugging the victim a month later.

On the third charge, she is alleged to have committed physical sexual assault by having the victim touch her chest in November of the same year.

The mother of six is alleged to have committed all the acts in the Islamic Education room of a national secondary school in Kinta at about 3.30pm.

All charges are framed under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and caning upon conviction. 

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin did not offer bail on the grounds that the offences are non-bailable, and taking into account the seriousness of the case as the accused was the victim’s teacher, besides the fact that the student no longer attends the same school.

Haslina’s lawyer, Amira Sofea An-Nur Ahmad, however, sought minimum bail, citing that the accused has six children aged between eight and 22 who are still in school and higher learning institutions.

She added that her client suffers from high cholesterol and migraines, her husband has health problems, and she is the family’s main source of income.

Amira Sofea An-Nur also informed the court that the accused is now serving at another school far from the victim, has a good service record as a teacher, is in permanent employment, and has no prior convictions.

The court then allowed the accused bail of RM10,000 with one surety and fixed Oct 28 for mention and submission of documents. — Bernama