PUTRAJAYA, July 17 — The Court of Appeal here today upheld a 10-year jail sentence and two strokes of the cane imposed on a warden of a tahfiz education centre convicted of two counts of physical sexual assault on a male student, five years ago.
A three-judge panel led by Datuk Azman Abdullah unanimously dismissed the appeal by Tengku Mohammad Khaireel Tengku Wahab, 32, against the conviction and sentence handed down by the Kuantan High Court on October 17, 2023.
In the judgment, he said, the court found that the testimony by the victim, who was then 11 years and six months old, was not a fabricated story, and this was supported by his complaint to a doctor at a health clinic who treated him.
“The victim cried when testifying at the Sessions Court. The accusation or complaint by the victim was against an ustaz (religious teacher) who taught him. It not only tarnished the name of the ustaz, but also had a personal impact on the victim,” he said.
Judge Azman, sitting with Datuk Noorin Badaruddin and Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz, said the court found the conviction handed down against Tengku Mohammad Khaireel to be correct and appropriate for both charges.
Regarding the sentence, Judge Azman said that as the appellant should be the individual responsible for preventing such an incident, a sentence of 10 years in prison and one stroke of the cane for each charge was not excessive.
“This sentence should not only give fear to the appellant but also the general public so that they do not repeat the same offence. With this, we unanimously dismiss the appeal by the appellant and the High Court’s decision is upheld,” said the judge.
On December 23, 2020, Tengku Mohammad Khaireel was charged with two counts of committing physical sexual assault on the boy in the warden’s room of the tahfiz school’s dormitory.
He was charged under Section 14(a) and Section 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 with committing the offence at 11.30pm on December 1, 2020.
On December 20, 2022, the Kuantan Sessions Court sentenced him to eight years in prison and two strokes of the cane for each charge and ordered the prison sentences to be served concurrently.
Following a cross-appeal by the prosecution, the Kuantan High Court, on December 20, 2022, increased the prison sentence to 10 years on each count, to be served concurrently, and reduced the number of whippings to one stroke for each charge.
Earlier, lawyer Mohd Shuhairil Ziqrul Sapi, representing Tengku Mohammad Khaireel, submitted that the High Court had erred in ruling the victim as a credible witness because the boy had given three different versions of the incident.
“The High Court erred in stating that the child’s testimony was judiciously convincing and that the testimony should be scrutinised by the appeal panel carefully.
“The victim’s testimony cannot be said to have reached the level of judiciously convincing because the prosecution did not call two other child witnesses who were sleeping on the top of a double-decker bed in the same room,” he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Aznee Salmie Ahmad, who appeared for the prosecution, said there was no basis to question the victim’s credibility because the testimony given was consistent and was supported by the testimony of the doctor at the health clinic, the accompanying teacher and the recording officer in the case.
“The victim was also emotional and cried while giving evidence in court about an ustaz who was respected in the school community. It was not fabricated but stemmed from trauma.
“This is a disgusting form of betrayal because the appellant is also the warden at the tahfiz centre and all the children rely on him,” said Aznee Salmie. — Bernama
* 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)
** If you suspect child abuse, call the following hotlines for free and confidential support: Talian Kasih at 15999 or WhatsApp 019-2615999 (24/7); Talian BuddyBear at 1800-18-2327(BEAR) (noon-midnight daily); and One Crisis Centre (24/7) Wilayah Persekutuan at 03-26155555 (Kuala Lumpur General Hospital), 03-61454333 (Sungai Buloh Hospital) or 03-83124200 (Putrajaya Hospital).
