MIC MAN IN SEX SCANDAL QUITS
Branch leader, also a teacher, caught soliciting sex from minors after audio clip goes viral
AN MIC branch leader has quit the party after getting caught with his pants down soliciting for sex with teenage girls in exchange for job opportunities.
The man was a party branch chairman, who is in his 50s and a school teacher.
His misconduct, in a series of scandals likely to have taken place for years, was recently exposed following a viral audio clip of him conversing with a woman, during which he allegedly promised her daughter employment in exchange for sex.
The man allegedly boasted to the woman of his previous exploits, claiming that he had slept with at least four girls as fees to land them jobs, apart from “seven to eight” school students in return for better examination results.
MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari revealed on Tuesday that the man had apologised to the family of the woman in the audio clip, and party leaders at the MIC headquarters. He subsequently resigned from the party.
But Vell Paari said he would not let the matter get swept under the carpet, and that the man’s resignation was not “get out of jail” card.
“Based on the voice note and evidence, it has been proven that he had sexually assaulted girls below the age of 18. He also claimed to have had sexual encounters with seven to eight Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students in exchange for improved examination results.
“By law, this is statutory rape of a minor and (the man) should be tried in a special court to deal with cases involving sexual crimes against children, in line with the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017,” Vell Paari said yesterday.
He said about three years ago, the man was confronted by a family and assaulted over a similar case.
“I have been informed that he had done it three years ago during which he was caught and assaulted. At that time, he had promised to change his ways, but apparently, this never happened going by the viral voice note.
“I find it very disgusting that this former MIC branch chairman, who is a teacher, would abuse his power and influence to take advantage of young girls on the pretext of helping them get jobs or better grades.
Vell Paari said the latest case could be just the “tip of the iceberg” and many more involving the man could be unearthed through police investigations.
“There could be many more cases involving him that we do not know of.
“This sexual assault has been going on for four years or more, and the number of victims could increase once police investigations begin.”
Vell Paari also said he had contacted Minister in the Prime Minister ’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to seek her advice and assistance on the case following her role in the tabling of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the teacher would be placed in a desk job.
He said the teacher from a Tamil school in Bestari Jaya would be transferred to the district education department.
“I have also instructed the state education department to carry out an internal investigation on the allegation immediately,” he said in a statement.
“I am disappointed and disgusted with the alleged behaviour of this teacher. At no cost should we condone such behaviour and despicable action by anyone, more so a teacher.”
Kamalanathan added that the ministry was committed to assist the relevant authorities in investigating the allegation to ensure the teacher received a stern punishment, if proven guilty. Additional reporting by Rizalman Hammim and Hani Shamira Shaharuddin