Doctor claims trial to producing porn, sexual misconduct
CHUKAI: A doctor claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to six charges of producing pornography and engaging in sexual misconduct while treating six pediatric patients from December 2022 to Jan 26, 2023.
The charges under the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act (Soaca) Act 2017 were read out to Dr Anas Ramli, 32, before judge Wan Suhaila Mohd.
The defendant, presently employed at a government hospital in Kuantan, Pahang, was charged with generating explicit content in the form of images featuring five female patients aged between 7 and 11, while treating them at the hospital.
The charges were framed under Section 5 of Soaca, which is punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment and not less than six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
He was also charged with engaging in physical sexual assault by touching the breasts of a 12-year-old female patient for sexual purposes on Feb 8 last year at the same hospital between 5.45pm and 6.40pm.
The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of SOACA which provides a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and caning, read with Section 16(1) of the same Act which provides for a maximum of five years in prison and no less than two strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Syairah Mohamad Razali requested the court to impose bail of RM20,000 for each charge with one surety, and for the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
Dr Anas’ lawyer Faizal Rahman appealed for a lower sum, saying the total sum of RM120,000 was too substantial for an individual who has been a civil servant for only four years.
The judge set bail at RM5,000 for each charge with one surety and approved the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution.
The accused was also required to report to the nearest police station on the 1st of every month until the disposal of the case.
Meanwhile, at the Magistrates’ Court, Dr Anas claimed trial to a charge of possessing explicit images on his mobile phone.
The offence was allegedly committed in the operating theatre of the same hospital between 7.30am and 10am on Nov 1, 2022.
This charge was framed under Section 292 of the Penal Code which provides for up to three years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
Magistrate Sharifah Armida Shasha Amir allowed the accused bail of RM3,500 with one surety and ordered him not to approach the victims and witnesses.
Both courts scheduled March 21 for the submission of documents by the prosecution team.
The accused’s sister, who was present at the proceedings, paid the bail. — Bernama