Kota Kinabalu: A 33-year-old primary school teacher was charged with eight counts of committing physical sexual harassment against four pupils.
Lowoyon Elod Jiviol pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge A. Akhiruddin @ boy Acho, to all the charges against him.
On the first and second counts, Lowoyon is accused of committing the offence against two girls aged 11, by touching their breasts respectively on Dec 31, 2024 at 8am inside a classroom of the school in Kudat.
On the third and fourth counts, he allegedly committed the same offence against the same girls on Jan 3 this year at the same place at 7.30am.
On the fifth and sixth counts, Lowoyon is accused of committing the sexual abuse against two boys, aged 11, by touching their private parts respectively on Dec 31, 2024 at 8am in the same classroom.
On the seventh and eight counts, he allegedly committed the offences against the same boys at 7.30am on Jan 3 this year in the same classroom.
The offence falls under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court set May 14 this year for pre-trial case management and released Lowoyon on bail of RM2,000 in a local surety for each count.
He was reminded by the court to not approach the complainants and the alleged victims.
According to counsel Sylvester Kwan who defended Lowoyon, his client was a teacher at the primary school in Kudat but temporarily transferred to Kudat District
Education Office (PPD) as Education Officer pending disposal of his cases.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tham Pou Jin appeared for the prosecution.
