THE Court of Appeal today upheld the 15-year jail sentence and 14 strokes of the cane imposed on a former tabligh teacher for seven counts of sexual assault on a Year 6 student four years ago.

Abidin Abdullah’s appeal against his jail sentence was struck by the three-member panel led by Hadhariah Syed Ismail.

Hadhariah, who sat with Azman Abdullah and Azmi Ariffin, said Abidin’s conviction and jail sentence were affirmed.

“A mature adult should be a good example to the young, especially students,” she said.

Abidin, 50, was found guilty by the Sessions Court on October 11, 2021, on seven charges of committing physical sexual assault on a 12-year-old boy in Shah Alam, Selangor, between September 21 and October 5, 2019.

Abidin was sentenced to 15 years’ jail and two strokes of the cane for each charge. He was ordered to serve the sentence concurrently from the date of his arrest on October 7, 2019, which meant he would serve a prison term of 15 years and be given 14 strokes of the cane.

The Sessions Court ordered Abidin to undergo rehabilitation for 10 years pursuant to section 26 (1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, as well as police supervision for three years after he completed the jail sentence.

He lost his appeal, which was dismissed by the High Court on August 12, 2022.

Mohamad Zaidan Daud, representing Abidin, initially asked the court to reduce his client’s jail sentence.

Justice Azman however said the court could make an order for the 15 years imprisonment term to run consecutively, which meant Abidin’s jail sentence would be increased as the offences committed by Abidin were separate transactions.

After consulting his client, Zaidan informed the court his client wished to withdraw the request.

Solehah Noratikah Ismail appeared for the prosecution. – Bernama, December 8, 2023.