KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — A tuition teacher was charged in two Sessions Courts today on six counts of physical sexual assault and unnatural sex against three male students recently in the capital.
M. D. Sebastian, 46, also a primary school teacher, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Judges Azrul Darus and Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad.
He faces four counts of physical sexual assault against three 11-year-old boys at a house in Kampung Muhibbah, Jalan Puchong, between July and September, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping.
The accused also faces two counts of carnal intercourse against the order of nature with the same victims at the same location, between 5.30pm and 6pm, on September 18 and September 30.
These charges were framed under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The court granted bail of RM40,000 with one surety for all charges, with additional conditions that Sebastian must not harass the victims and witnesses, surrender his passport, and report to a nearby police station once a month until the case is concluded.
The court then fixed November 23 and December 18 for the case to be mentioned.
Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Suloshani Vijendran and Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Mansheel Kaur and Harvind Singh represented the accused.
On Friday (October 16), the media reported that Sebastian had been arrested at 11.30pm on October 10 in the compound of the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters to assist investigations into physical sexual assault and unnatural sex against five male students.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the offences were allegedly committed at the suspect's house, which also served as a tuition centre.
Meanwhile, before Judge Azrul, Indonesian labourer Mohammad Habit, 37, pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female student in the women's prayer room at a multi-storey car park in Sentul between 6.30pm and 7pm on October 4.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the same Act. The court did not offer bail and fixed November 23 for mention of the case.
DPP Suloshani appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Tharamjit Singh.
