KAJANG, 16 May 2018:
A former religious teacher was charged in the sessions court here yesterday with 20 counts of inciting and outraging the modesty of his 10 male pupils between February 2014 and April 2017.
Mohd Farid Yusof, 31, a former Quran and Fardu Ain (Kafa) teacher, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read separately before judge Datin Surita Budin.
The man was charged with two counts of inciting two of the boys, aged 10 and 11, to an act of gross indecency at a male teacher’s room of the integrated religious school in Bangi – in September 2015 and November 2016 respectively.
The charge, under Section 377E of the Penal Code, carries a maximum 15 years imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.
Mohd Farid, who is now self-employed, was also charged with 18 counts of criminal violence for the purpose of outraging the modesty of nine of the boys, aged between nine and 12, including one he incited to an act of gross indecency.
He was alleged to have committed all the offences in the school’s male teacher’s room, sick bay, audio-visual room, curriculum room and three classrooms – between February 2014 and April 2017 – and charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of 10 years or a fine or whipping or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Noor Hafizan Zakaria, while the accused was not represented.
The court allowed Mohd Farid bail of RM20,000 in one surety and an additional condition to prohibit him from harassing all the victims. June 8 was fixed for mention.
– Bernama