Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Ustaz slapped with 3 more charges of sexual assault on child

 

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Ustaz slapped with 3 more

charges of sexual assault

on child

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Hafidz Eshak claims trial to committing the acts on a 14-year-old girl at a house and a religious centre in Port Dickson.

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Hafidz Eshak, 43, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before judge Kamil Nizam at the Seremban sessions court. (Pexels pic)

PETALING JAYA
An ustaz who earlier claimed trial to molesting a teenage girl has been slapped with three more charges of committing physical sexual assault on a child.

Hafidz Eshak, 43, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Kamil Nizam at the Seremban sessions court, reported Berita Harian.

He was charged with committing the acts on a 14-year-old girl in March, June and August at a house as well as a religious centre in Port Dickson.

The charges against Hafidz, who is the chairman of the religious centre, were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and caning upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi requested bail at RM50,000 for each charge because of the severity of the offences.

Lawyer Hanif Hassan, representing Hafidz, requested a lower bail amount for all three charges, saying the religious centre led by the accused was a non-profit and depended on public donations as well as aid from the state religious department.

Kamil allowed the accused bail of RM12,000 and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court. He also fixed Oct 29 for mention of the case.

Earlier today, Hafidz claimed trial in the Port Dickson magistrates’ court to a charge of outraging the modesty of a 19-year-old girl who was training at the religious centre to be a teacher.

He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years in jail or a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments, if convicted.

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