Private medical student admits to having possession of child pornography

MUAR: A medical student enters a guilty plea for having in his possession child pornography videos that were recorded using a mobile phone in a toilet.

Desmond Tan Chee Yong, 20, admitted to the charge before Sessions Court judge Abu Bakar Manat here on Wednesday (July 10).

The accused, who is the eldest of two siblings, was said to have committed the offence at Sialin commercial centre at about 9pm on June 29 this year.

The charge, under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carries a maximum jail term of five years or a fine of RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, the accused had placed a mobile phone in a red packet, activated the camera and left it in the toilet for an hour before retrieving it.

But the ruse was exposed when a victim spotted the packet, a local Malay daily reported.

Police investigations found footage of nine victims, comprising four adults and five children, who had used the washroom.

Deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir prosecuted while the accused was not represented.

Abu Bakar set bail at RM7,000 in one surety, pending a social report and sentencing on Aug 27.

The accused was also ordered to report to the Muar police monthly until the case is resolved.

Later at a magistrate’s court, Tan also pleaded guilty to possessing obscene or indecent pictures on the same date and time, under Section 292 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Fatin Dalilah Khalid granted RM2,000 in bail, pending mention of the case in the Sessions Court.