Teacher claims trial to sexual assault of student, possession of obscene material

A teacher was charged at the Johor Bahru Sessions and Magistrate’s Courts today with five counts of sexually assaulting a female student and two counts of possessing pornographic material.

Amirul Firdaus Awang Meran, 28, pleaded not guilty to all five charges read before judges Nor Aziati Jaafar and Madihah Zainol, as well as two charges before magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab.

For the five charges, the accused, a teacher in a position of trust, was charged with physical sexual assault against the student, who was 11 years old at the time of the incident, in a car at a playground parking lot in Masai between February 2024 and August 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, which provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping.

He also faces an additional sentence under Section 16(1), which carries a maximum of five years’ imprisonment and a minimum of two strokes of the cane.

Obscene material on phones

Meanwhile, in the Magistrate’s Court, the man was charged with two counts of storing obscene material in two mobile phones at Jalan Seri Wangi 1/1, Taman Perindustrian Plentong, Masai, at 10.30pm on May 21.

The offence, under Section 292(a) of the Penal Code, provides for a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both.

Deputy public prosecutors Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin, SS Manushri and Sarah Siti Aisyah Mustapha Kamal proposed bail of RM20,000 for all charges, with additional conditions.

Lawyers Nur Zafirah Norizan and Ungku Ahmad Hafis Ungku Fathil, representing Amirul, requested that the bail amount be reduced, saying that their client earns a net monthly income of RM3,000 and has been a teacher for five years.

Nor Aziati and Madihah allowed bail of RM13,000, while Atifah set bail at RM6,000.

The courts also imposed additional conditions, namely that the accused is prohibited from harassing the victim, must surrender his passport to the court, and report to the nearest police station once a month.

The case is fixed for mention on July 13.

- Bernama

SNAPSHOT | Good behaviour bond for juvenile rapist; Perlis ruler hopes MB will lead until term ends

Sex crimes involving minors: Minister urges authorities, public to take prompt action

MP blasts ministry over dropped rape charge, low convictions