TELUK INTAN, Nov 13 — A retired teacher pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to 17 charges of physically sexually assaulting seven female students aged 13 to 15, between May 2024 and July last year.
Zaidi Abbas, 56, who is physically disabled, made the plea after all the charges were read out separately before Judge Rafidah Che Aziz.
He was charged with committing the offence while holding a position of trust as a teacher.
The alleged offences took place in a special room and the canteen of a secondary school in Langkap, as well as in a vehicle in the surrounding area and during a journey back from Teluk Intan, between May 2024 and July 7, 2025.
The charges were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.
Upon conviction, the offence carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping. The court may also impose an additional prison sentence of between two and five years, together with at least two strokes of the cane.
Judge Rafidah granted bail of RM40,000 for all 17 charges, and also ordered the accused not to intimidate the victims, as well as to report to the nearest police station once a month pending disposal of the case.
The court fixed December 14 for mention for the submission of documents.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan offered bail of RM70,000 for all charges with the additional conditions.
However, lawyer Koh Shean Wai, representing the accused, appealed for the bail amount to be reduced to RM1,000 for each charge on the grounds that his client had to support a wife, mother and four school-going children with an income of about RM4,000 a month.
He said the accused also had no previous criminal record and was not a flight risk. — Bernama
* If you are experiencing sexual violence, the following hotlines offer free and confidential support: Talian Kasih at 15999 or WhatsApp 019-2615999 (24/7); All Women’s Action Society at 016-2374221/016-2284221 (9.30am-5.30pm); and Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) at 03-30008858 or SMS/WhatsApp TINA 018-9888058 (24/7)
