TELUK INTAN: A secondary school teacher was charged in the Sessions Court here with 32 counts of committing unnatural sex and sexual grooming of seven male students from July to September last year.

       Mohd Faizal Amir, 32, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read out to him before judge Intan Nurul Farena Zainal Abidin.

       He was charged with 10 counts of performing unnatural sex and 22 counts of committing physical sexual assault on the students aged 14 to 16 at a school warden’s house in Tapah between July 28 and Sept 28 last year.

       For the unnatural sex offences, the accused was charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code.

       And for the sexual grooming offences, the charges were framed under Section 14 (a) and Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act which provides a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment with whipping, if convicted.

       Intan Nurul Farena allowed the accused bail of RM55,000 with one surety on all the charges, with the additional condition that he refrain from harassing the victims and to report to the nearest police station once a month.

       The court fixed Nov 15 for mention.

       The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Cheah Shuh Yuan while the accused was represented by counsel Muhammad Farid Wajdi Hanif. — Bernama