Latest news with #ZuraidahZakaria


Malay Mail
01-08-2025
- Malay Mail
Serian counselling teacher charged with five counts of sexual abuse against 16-year-old male student, court set RM160,000 bail
KUCHING, Aug 1 — A male counselling teacher pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here yesterday to five counts of committing physical sexual abuse against a 16-year-old male student at a secondary school in Serian. The 50-year-old accused, who was represented by a lawyer, entered the plea in separate courtrooms before judges Iris Awen Jon and Zuraidah Zakaria. He was charged with three counts of making the victim touch his own genitals in August, September and November 2023 in the prefects' room at the school, and two counts of touching the victim's genitals in September and November 2023 in the same room. The charges against him were framed under Section 14© and Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 14 and read together with Section 16 of the same Act. Section 14 provides for up to 20 years' imprisonment and whipping, while Section 16 provides for up to five years' jail and no fewer than two strokes of the cane, upon conviction. Both judges set Sept 29, 2025 for case management, with Judge Iris granting the accused bail of RM40,000 with two local sureties for each of the three charges, and Judge Zuraidah setting bail at RM20,000 with two local sureties for each of the two charges. The total amount of bail for all five charges was RM160,000. The accused was also instructed to report to the nearest police station on the first Monday of every month and surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of the case, as well as not to interfere with prosecution witnesses. Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff appeared for the prosecution. — The Borneo Post * If you are experiencing sexual violence, the following hotlines offer free and confidential support: Talian Kasih at 15999 or WhatsApp 019-2615999 (24/7); All Women's Action Society at 016-2374221/016-2284221 (9.30am-5.30pm); and Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) at 03-30008858 or SMS/WhatsApp TINA 018-9888058 (24/7)


Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Teen sent to Henry Gurney School for armed robbery at Kuching convenience store
According to the facts of the case, the accused, wearing a helmet, entered the premises and approached a staff member while brandishing a knife with the intention to rob. – Stock photo KUCHING (July 11): A 19-year-old boy has been ordered to be sent to the Henry Gurney School in Puncak Borneo until he reaches the age of 21 for robbing a convenience store while armed with a knife. Judge Zuraidah Zakaria handed down the sentence after the teenager pleaded guilty to a charge framed under Section 392 of the Penal Code, punishable under the same section and read together with Section 397 of the same Code. Section 392 provides for imprisonment of up to 14 years and also stipulates liability to a fine or whipping. Meanwhile, Section 397 allows for a sentence of whipping in addition to any other punishment under the Penal Code. The offence was committed at around 12.32am on May 28, 2025 at the convenience store. According to the facts of the case, the accused, wearing a helmet, entered the premises and approached a staff member while brandishing a knife with the intention to rob. Fearing for her safety, the victim handed over RM514 in cash from the store's drawer to the suspect. A police report was subsequently lodged, which led to the arrest of the suspect. He was later positively identified by the victim during a police line-up. Further investigation revealed that the accused had provided information regarding the items used during the incident. These included a vegetable-cutting knife and a pair of black jeans. The seized items, the vegetable-cutting knife and a maroon-coloured helmet, were also identified by the victim and were consistent with those seen in the store's closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fadzri Azham Zainudin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented. armed robbery convenience store henry gurney school teen


Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Shop assistant gets 20 years, eight strokes for raping underage girlfriend
The accused is led away by police after sentencing. KUCHING (July 7): A shop assistant was sentenced by the Sessions Court here today to a total of 20 years in prison and eight strokes of the cane for raping a 13-year-old girl last year. Judge Zuraidah Zakaria sentenced the 22-year-old accused to 10 years and four strokes for each of the two charges, with the prison terms to run concurrently. The accused was also ordered to undergo rehabilitative counselling during his custodial sentence, and to be placed under police supervision for a year upon his release. The offences were committed in a toilet and empty room at a workers' hostel in the Matang area here at around 12.15am and 2am, respectively, on Jan 31, 2024. Both charges were framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years' imprisonment and caning, upon conviction. According to the facts of the case, the victim's mother suspected that her daughter had engaged in sexual intercourse with the accused, who was the girl's boyfriend. The accused was arrested following a police report lodged by the mother. The victim was referred to Sarawak General Hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed the presence of an old tear in her hymen. The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fadzri Azham Zainudin, while the accused was represented by lawyer Moh Ung Kieng. Court crime rape underage


Borneo Post
16-06-2025
- Borneo Post
PwD man sentenced to 10 years, 10 strokes for attempting to sodomise disabled boy
The accused is led away after sentencing. – Photo by Hafizah Abdul Hamid KUCHING (June 16): A 43-year-old person with disability (PwD) was sentenced by the Sessions Court here today to 10 years in jail and 10 strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old disabled boy. Judge Zuraidah Zakaria convicted the accused on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 14 of the same Act, and also ordered him to undergo one year of police supervision upon his release from prison. The offence was committed at a house in Siburan at around 8am on March 2 this year. According to the facts of the case, the accused—an acquaintance of the victim's father—entered the family's house unnoticed and attempted to sodomise the boy in a room. The victim's younger brother witnessed the act and alerted their elder sister who was in her own room. She rushed to the victim's room and shouted at the accused, who fled the house but left behind his bag which contained his identity card. The sister then informed their grandfather of the incident and he filed a police report which led to the arrest of the accused. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fadzri Azham Zainudin prosecuted the case, while the accused was not represented. During a previous proceeding on March 12, Sessions Court Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman granted an application by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff to refer the accused to Sentosa Hospital for psychiatric observation for a month, as the accused was reportedly mentally unstable and has learning disabilities. The observation found the accused to be mentally fit and able to stand trial. Court disabled boy person with disability sexual assault