Tahfiz operators plead not guilty to charge of abusing children

KUANTAN: A married couple who runs a tahfi z centre, Ribath Tahfi z Asy- Syirazi, were charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with abusing five children who were under their care.

Uji Che Mat, 43, and her husband, Mohd Zamzuri Abdul Manap, 42, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Dazuki Ali.

Uji, who has five children of her own, was charged with abusing a seven year- old boy by repeatedly threatening to burn his private part with a lighter and cut it with a gardening scissors.

The offence was allegedly committed at the tahfiz centre, Ribath Tahfiz Asy- Syirazi, at Lorong Tok Sira, Jalan Tengku Muhammad here at 11.51am on Aug 18.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, and faced a fi ne of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to 20 years, if found guilty.

The woman was also charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code with outraging the modesty of the boy by holding and pulling his private part at the same place and time.

She faced an imprisonment for up to 10 years, or fine , or whipping, or any two of the punishments, if found guilty.

Uji was also jointly charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 with Mohd Zamzuri with ill- treating four other children, aged between seven and 12, who were students at the centre by whipping them on several occasions, hence causing the children to be physically injured.

The were alleged to have committed the offence at the tahfi z centre at noon and evening between Jan 2 and 31, 2017.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zamzuri also faced another charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act with whipping a seven-year- old boy at the centre at 8.18pm on Aug 11.

Dazuki set bail of RM25,000 and RM20,000 in one surety each for Uji and Mohd Zamzuri, respectively and fixed Oct 4 for mention.

He also ordered the couple, who is from Kampung Selamat, to not intimidate the victims or their family members.

Both the accused did not post bail. — Bernama