The Shah Alam High Court today ordered a religious school teacher to enter his defence to a charge of sexually assaulting a student four years ago.

Judicial commissioner Hasbullah Adam told Mohamad Ajmal Mohamed Khairi, 26, to enter his defence at the sessions court in Ampang at 2pm today.

Hasbullah made the ruling after examining the records of the appeal by the prosecution and considering the written submissions by both parties.

The prosecution, as both the appellant and respondent, agreed to appeal by putting in written submissions at the High Court on January 25.

“After examining the records of the appeal and written submissions, the court finds there is a prima facie case for the charge under section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017,” said Hasbullah.

Ajmal was discharged and acquitted by the sessions court after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against three charges at the end of the case on October 4, 2019.

Ajmal is accused of committing physical sexual assault on a 14-year-old student under sections 14(a) and 16 of the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017, which provide for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

He was also charged with committing the same offence under section 14(b) of the same Act.

Hasbullah said Ajmal also faced another charge of committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature with the same victim. The offence under section 377C of the penal code carries a jail term of between five to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

Ajmal allegedly committed the offences at a tahfiz centre on June 8, 2018.

He was represented by lawyer Ahmad Ishrakh Saad, while deputy public prosecutor Nur Zatil Hidayah Ali appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama, January 31, 2022.