PENANG police have arrested an Islamic studies teacher over allegations he sexually assaulted five young boys and attempted to attack another.

Southwest district police chief superintendent A.A. Anbalagan said police received six reports against the teacher last Friday and yesterday.

“There are four reports involving four standard five boys, all aged 11, and one involving a standard four boy, aged 10.

“The other report involves another standard five boy who almost fell victim to the suspect,” he told the media today.

Anbalagan said the 40-year-old man was arrested yesterday at 10am at the district education office in Balik Pulau.

He said one of the victims had informed his mother on July 18 that the teacher had touched his private parts during class.

“During the incident, the boy was called up by the teacher during Quran reading class. When the boy stood next to the teacher’s table, the suspect touched the child’s private parts.

“He told his mother that the teacher had been touching him repeatedly since April last year. The latest incident was on July 16,” he said.

Anbalagan said the boy told his mother that a few of his friends had also been molested by the same teacher.

“The mother lodged a report last Friday. Yesterday, four other victims also lodged reports against the teacher.

“It is alleged that the suspect had committed other physical sexual offences in class and in the school surau. Some acts were committed after school hours.

“Some of his victims were repeatedly targeted.”

Anbalagan said the teacher, who is married with five children, did not have a criminal record and  tested negative for drugs, adding the suspect had taught at the school since 2014.

The suspect has been remanded for seven days until July 30 for investigation under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017 for physical sexual assault against a child.

It is an offence to touch any part of a child’s body, to make a child touch any part of his or her own body or that of another person, or to have physical contact with a child, even without sexual intercourse.

The offence is punishable with jail not exceeding 20 years and whipping. – July 24, 2018.