Married religious teacher held for allegedly molesting pupils

BALIK PULAU: A religious teacher was arrested on Monday after police reports were lodged against him for allegedly molesting his pupils.

The 40-year-old man was picked up at the southwest district Education Office by police about 10am.

Southwest district police chief Superintendent A.A. Anbalagan said police had received six reports against the man.

“Five of the reports are for molesting four Year Five and a Year Four boys.

“The sixth report is for attempting to molest another Year Five boy,” he said yesterday.

Anbalagan said the first report was lodged by the mother of one of the boys last Wednesday, after she was told by her son that the teacher had fondled his private parts in class.

“At the time of the incident, the victim was asked by the suspect to recite (a verse from) the al-Quran. While the boy was standing near his table, the suspect touched the boy’s private parts.

“The victim told his mother that the teacher had been doing this since April last year and the latest incident was last Monday.

“The victim said some of his friends were also sexually assaulted by the teacher,” he said, adding that this prompted the mother to lodge the report.

Anbalagan said other reports indicated that the victims were molested in their classrooms and surau, as well as after school hours.

He said investigations showed the suspect was married with five children.

“He has been teaching at the school since 2014,” he added.

The suspect has been remanded for seven days to assist in investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.