A 38-year-old warden at a Quran learning centre broke down in tears after pleading guilty to charges of sodomy and sexual assault involving male children.
Mohd Khairi Fitri Baharom was sentenced to six years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court on Thursday (June 12) after admitting to three out of 15 charges, according to Sinar Harian.
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He sexually assaulted kids aged between 10 and 13
The court also ordered the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling and be placed under police supervision for one year after serving his prison sentence.
Based on the three charges read separately in court, the accused admitted to committing physical sexual assault and sodomy against three male victims, aged 12 years and 4 months, 13 years and 4 months, and 10 years and 7 months at the time of the offences.
The incidents occurred in the warden’s room at a Quran learning centre in Jempol between December 15ā20, 2023, and January 7, 2025.
He was charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.
“He betrayed the children’s trust by committing sexual offences”
The accused pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing his responsibility to care for his elderly parents and the fact that he is unmarried.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni urged the court to hand down a punishment that serves as a deterrent. She argued that the guilty plea should not be considered a mitigating factor, especially since the case involved students.
“In this case, the accused was a teacher and warden entrusted with the children’s safety, but he betrayed that trust by committing sexual offences. We urge the court to impose a sentence that sends a strong message, as public interest must take precedence over the accused’s personal circumstances,” she said.
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He also faced 12 more charges of sexual assault and sodomy
Separately, the accused pleaded not guilty to six additional charges of sexual assault and six charges of sodomy involving five other male students, including one of the earlier victims, aged between 8 and 12 years and nine months.
The alleged offences occurred between March 2024 and January 2025 at the same Quran learning centre and a house in Kampung Rembang Panas, Kuala Pilah.
The charges were brought under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) and Section 377C of the Penal Code.
The court scheduled the next case mention for July 14, with the accusedās prison sentence set to begin from the date of his arrest on May 25, 2025.
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