A primary school teacher in Serian claimed trial to 14 counts of molesting and outraging the modesty of five of his underage pupils.
Wearing a black T-shirt and grey jeans, Lai Chee Hiang, 37, was accused of committing the offences between May and August this year.
Lai was slapped with three charges of having an 11-year-old boy perform oral sex on him at the school’s students affairs office between May and August this year. He was charged in the Sessions Court under Section 377B of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on the victim, which carries the maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping if found guilty.
He was charged with three counts of touching the victim’s private parts at a classroom of the same school during the same period. He faces an imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Crimes Against Children Act 2017.
Lai also allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of another boy, aged 10, in a storeroom of the school in August.
Other charges include allegedly molesting an 11-year-old boy and two similar counts involving another 10-year-old boy, whom the accused also allegedly incited to commit an act of gross indecency.
All these offences were said to have taken place inside a classroom in August.
The last two charges involved a 12-year-old boy, whom he allegedly molested and incited to commit an act of gross indecency inside a classroom in August.
The seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 13th charges were made against him under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Crimes Against Children Act 2017, which carries an imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The 11th, 12th and 14th charges were made under Section 377E of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to five years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azhari Yusof asked the court not to grant bail.
“Since the victims are children, we do not want to give any avenue for the accused to reach out or communicate with the boys,” he was quoted as saying.
Lai’s counsel KC Wong said the charges against his client were for bailable offences.
Judge Shafiza Abdul Razak Tready, however, denied the bail request.
She said the hearing date would be fixed when the case is called for mention at the Samarahan Court Complex in Kota Samarahan on Oct 25.