He is definitely more than meets the eye – at first, it was thought that he was a priest, then it was said that he was a pastor, now it seems that he may have been a self-proclaimed pastor and self-appointed guardian as well.
- Alleged sexual abuse started when she was nine
- Victim was allowed to meet her mother only once a year, always in the presence of the suspect
- Suspect allegedly abused the victim when his wife was not home
- Victim sought help from the suspect’s wife and two sons – they thought she was lying
- Suspect’s wife begged the victim’s mother not to lodge a report
A 49-year-old man has been remanded for four days in connection with the alleged sexual assault of one of his wards over the past eight years.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din said police had yet to determine if the 17-year-old victim was sexually abused as they are awaiting the medical report.
“As of now, there is only one victim. A complete medical examination has yet to be completed (on the victim) and we are still waiting for the full report from the hospital.
“The victim is currently under the care of the Welfare Department, as per our protocol.
“We are still investigating whether the suspect has prior offences or police records,” Zani was quoted as saying by The Star.
He added that statements would be taken from the suspect’s family.
The legality of the adoption of the victim is also being investigated.
The suspect was allegedly based in a church in Puchong.
The case is being investigated under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which carries a prison term of up to 20 years and whipping.
The victim’s mother, a Chinese national, said she sent her daughter when she was aged nine to the suspect’s home-schooling centre in 2009 after she could not enrol her in a regular school, Malay Mail Online reported.
The mother claimed the suspect convinced her to let him become her daughter’s guardian and told her it was safer for the girl to stay in his house rather than at the centre as authorities could create trouble because she was a foreigner, the report said.
The victim managed to escape the suspect’s flat and caller her mother before they lodged a police report on Oct 17.
According to the news portal, the 39-year-old mother did not suspect anything amiss until contact with her daughter became restricted and the girl’s mobile phone was confiscated by the suspect.
“He would not allow us to meet alone and would always be present. The suspect’s wife pleaded with me not to lodge a police report after I found out about the abuse,” the mother was quoted as saying.
The mother reportedly paid the suspect a monthly allowance of RM500 and was only allowed to see her daughter once a year during annual gatherings.
“I suspected something was not right when my daughter was recently caught consuming alcohol at school.
“I found out the abuse started four months after my daughter moved into the home of the suspect and his family.
“My daughter related he would take her into a room to abuse her when his wife was not at home,” the mother was quoted as saying.
The mother also claimed her daughter had tried to seek help from the suspect’s wife and two sons, aged 17 and 21, but they thought she was lying, the report said.
“I am devastated my daughter went through a terrible ordeal.
“But as her mother, I have to be stronger than her. I have given her my word that I will protect her and not let anyone hurt her anymore, she was quoted as saying.
Earlier report: Oct 19, PJ Priest Allegedly Sexually Abused “Adopted Daughter”