Ex-teacher jailed after losing appeal in molest case

PUTRAJAYA: A former English language teacher was jailed 12 months after losing the appeal to set aside his conviction for outraging the modesty of his pupil six years ago.

Abdul Majid Ahmad, 56, who was on a RM15,000 bail with one surety pending his appeal, was ordered to start his jail term from yesterday.

He was found guilty by the Magistrate’s Court on March 9, 2018, for outraging the 12-year-old girl’s modesty in a classroom of a primary school in Bera, Pahang, at 9am on April 12, 2014. His appeal dismissed by the High Court on March 14 last year.

According to the facts of the case, Abdul Majid had touched the victim’s thigh and fondled her private parts during an English language extra class.

In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal, chaired by Justice Datuk Yaacob Md Sam, dismissed Abdul Majid’s appeal, ruling that his conviction for the offence was safe to be upheld.

After perusing submissions by Abdul Majid’s lawyer Mohd Hissham Ramzan and deputy public prosecutor Wong Poi Yoke, as well as the records of appeal, the court found that there was no merit in Abdul Majid’s appeal, Yaacob said.

The other judges were Datuk P. Ravinthran and Datuk Wira Ahmad Nasfy Yasin.

Mohd Hissham had earlier submitted that there was no corroboration of the victim’s evidence and the testimony of another pupil.

Wong argued that the evidence of an eye witness was sufficient to prove that Abdul Majid had intentionally committed the offence. — Bernama