PETALING JAYA: A primary school teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting three 11-year-old boys and committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature.
MD Sebastian, 46, pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court before two separate judges, Azrul Darus and Ilmami Ahmad, Berita Harian reported.
Sebastian, who is also a tuition teacher, was charged with four counts of physical sexual assault against the three victims at a house in Kampung Muhibbah, Kuala Lumpur, between July and September.
The charges, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, are punishable by a maximum 20-year jail term and caning, upon conviction.
He is also accused of committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature with one of the victims at the same location on Sept 18 and 30.
These two charges were framed under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which provides for five to 20 years in prison and whipping, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutors V Suloshani and Ikhwan Nasir asked the courts to impose bail of RM10,000 on each charge, and for the accused to surrender his passport and report to the police every month.
Sebastian's lawyer, Mansheel Kaur, appealed for a minimal bail amount, saying her client was not a flight risk as he has his own home and also needed to look after his elderly parents.
Sebastian was granted bail of RM40,000 for all the charges, in addition to the conditions requested by the prosecution.
The cases were set for further mention on Nov 23 and Dec 18.