Teacher charged with sexual crimes against male pupils
KUCHING: A primary school teacher pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to 14 charges of committing sexual crimes against five male pupils in Serian this year.
The accused, 37-year-old Lai Chee Chiang, claimed trial before Judge Shafiza Abdul Razak Tready, who fixed Oct 24 for further mention of the cases.
The judge had also ordered Lai to be further detained in prison until further notice after denying the accused bail.
Lai, from Batu Kawah, was arrested on Oct 2 around 3pm when he presented himself at the Serian police station after being summoned to give a statement over the allegations.
Eight of the charges against him are framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act.
The Section provides an imprisonment term not exceeding 20 years and shall also be liable to whipping.
The remaining charges fall under Section 377E of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent, which provides an imprisonment term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to whipping.
Police reports were lodged against Lai after complaints from the parents of the boys were said to have been ignored by the school.
Lai was represented by lawyer KC Wong while DPP Azahari Yusof prosecuted.