A FORMER Arabic language teacher began his eight-year jail term today after the Court of Appeal dismissed his final appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence for sexually assaulting a primary school girl in 2018.

Nor Azlam Ab Rahman, 43, will also be given one stroke of the cane.

A three-member panel, comprising judges Hanipah Farikullah, Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, unanimously dismissed Nor Azlam’s appeal after ruling that it did not have merits.

In the court’s decision, Hanipah said based on the totality of the evidence, Nor Azlam’s conviction is safe.

She said the Sessions Court had held that Nor Azlam failed to raise any reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case, adding that there is no error by the Sessions Court and High Court that warrants appellate intervention.

She also said the eight years’ jail and whipping imposed by the Sessions Court are not manifestly excessive.

Hanipah issued a warrant of committal for Nor Azlam to begin his jail sentence from today. Nor Azlam was previously released on bail of RM50,000 pending disposal of his appeal.

On October 5, 2019, the Sessions Court found Nor Azlam guilty of sexually assaulting the 12-year-old girl and sentenced him to eight years in jail and ordered to be given one stroke of the cane. The High Court dismissed his appeal on May 16, 2022.

According to the charge sheet, Nor Azlam, who is also a licensed Islamic healer, committed the offence in the science laboratory of a school in Kota Baru, Kelantan at 2.30pm on August 4, 2018.

He was represented by lawyer Mohd Azrul Hasyimi Mohammad while deputy public prosecutor Dhiya Syazwani Izyan Mohd Akhir appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama, May 15, 2023.