KOTA BARU: The headmaster of a tahfiz school pleaded not guilty in the sessions court here today to five counts of sodomising students over the past three years.
Muzaidi Mohamad, 30, entered the plea after the charges were read out to him before judge Nik Habri Muhamad.
According to the charge sheet, Muzaidi is alleged to have sodomised three students aged between 12 and 15 years.
The accused was alleged to have committed the offences in his office at an orphanage in Bachok and in a bedroom at a tahfiz school in Machang between April 2021 and April this year.
He was charged under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and whipping if convicted.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Faiz Fitri Mohamad and Siti Edabayu Subhan, while Muzaidi was represented by Azrul Hasyimi Mohammad.
Faiz argued that the court should deny bail, citing danger to prosecution witnesses.
Meanwhile, Azrul requested the lowest bail allowed, noting that Muzaidi has a wife and a young child to support.
The court set bail at RM15,000 for each charge with one surety. Muzaidi was ordered not to contact the witnesses and to report to the nearest police station every month.
The court fixed May 29 for next mention and submission of documents.
