Religious teacher charged with sexual assault of student in Ipoh

Haslina Abu Bakar, a 48-year-old religious teacher, pleaded not guilty to three charges of physical sexual assault against a 16-year-old male student at the Ipoh Sessions Court. The alleged incidents occurred between November and December 2024 in an Islamic education room at a secondary school in the Kinta district.

The charges include kissing the victim on the mouth, hugging him, and having the victim touch her chest, all for sexual purposes. The case is being prosecuted under Sections 14(a) and 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. If convicted, the accused faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and caning.

While the prosecution initially opposed bail due to the seriousness of the offense and the teacher-student relationship, the judge granted bail in the amount of RM10,000 with one surety. The defense argued for minimum bail, noting that the accused is the sole breadwinner for her six children and manages various health issues.