Religious leader denies molestation charge, claims trial

PORT DICKSON: A 43-year-old religious leader claimed trial at the magistrate’s court here to a charge of using criminal force with the intention to molest a teacher undergoing practical training at a religious centre.

Mohd Hafidz Eshak, an ustaz, was dressed in a white robe and skullcap when he pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani.

The offence was allegedly committed at the religious centre where the accused is a chairman.

He allegedly committed the offence against the 19-year-old victim at the centre around 6.40pm on Aug 18.

The suspect was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments, if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali asked the court for another date for case management.

He also requested the court to set bail at RM50,000, citing the seriousness of the offence.

He said the accused had another serious charge at the Seremban Sessions Court.

He added the court also had to take into account public interest when setting the bail amount.

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However, counsel for the accused Datuk Hanif Hassan argued that the amount was exorbitant.

Hanif, assisted by Nur Haifa Husna Zuhaimi, said the court should not be influenced by the recent “Ops Global.”

A total of 402 children comprising 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17 were rescued from 20 homes raided in the operation.

There were allegations that the children had been abused, exploited, and sexually assaulted.

“This case is totally unrelated,” Hanif said.

“It is my hope that the court will set a low bail amount as the accused is a local and not a flight risk,” he added.

Hanif proposed RM3,000 as a fair amount, stating the accused was innocent until proven guilty.

“The family of the accused and a friend have managed to raise only RM10,000, and the amount would also be used to bail the accused in Seremban later,” he said.

Magistrate Uthman then fixed bail at RM4,000 and ordered the accused not to contact the victim or witnesses.

The case management was fixed for Oct 17.