Camp facilitator’s remand extended over molestation claims in Balik Pulau

BALIK PULAU: Shielding his face from the cameras with his T-shirt pulled over his head, a camp facilitator had his remand extended by three days for further investigations into claims four Year Six male students were molested during a motivational camp held in Kampung Genting here.

The remand order against the man, 33, was issued by Magistrate Chia Huey Ting at the remand room at the Balik Pulau Court here on Wednesday (Oct 22).

The man was brought to court by the police at 9.08am for the remand order and only left at 10.23am after it was issued.

The police said the remand was granted for three days ending Saturday (Oct 25).

The suspect, who is married with two children, was earlier remanded for seven days from Oct 16 to assist in investigations under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

It was reported that the man had been arrested at his home in Sungai Petani, Kedah, at about 9pm on Oct 15 after police received a report on the incident.

Balik Pulau OCPD Asst Comm Sazalee Adam said the incident is believed to have occurred on Oct 12 during a motivational programme involving a school from Kerian, Perak.

The suspect, who was an invited facilitator, is alleged to have molested the victims while they were asleep in the dormitory.

“Preliminary investigations found that the incident took place around midnight while the pupils were resting in a male dormitory,” ACP Sazalee said.

He said the victims only disclosed what happened after returning home from the camp.

The school headmaster later lodged a police report at the Bagan Serai police station in Perak on Wednesday (Oct 16).