SEREMBAN: A 53-year-old teacher claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to three charges of committing physical sexual assault against a 10-year-old female pupil.

The accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam on Thursday (July 17).

He was charged with committing the offences between 1pm and 1.30pm at the library of a school in Kuala Pilah on Jan 2 last year.

The accused was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and caning if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni then told the court her team was seeking bail of RM20,000 for each of the three charges.

She also asked the court to order the accused to stay away from the victim and prosecution witnesses, to report to the nearest police station once every month pending disposal of the case, and to surrender his passport to the court.

Norazihah also told the court that the alleged victim was a student of the accused.

Lawyer Ramzani Idris asked for a lower bail amount and said the accused has since been transferred to the district Education office in Kuala Pilah and would not have any contact with the victim.

He said the accused had also been cooperative during police investigations.

Judge Kamil then fixed bail at RM15,000 for each charge with one surety and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.

Mention was set for Aug 18.