Four assistant religious school teachers accused of child sexual assault in Kuala Pilah to submit second appeal to AGC for reduced charges

SEREMBAN, Nov 18 — The defence team representing four assistant teachers from a madrasah (religious school) in Kuala Pilah, who face 20 charges of committing physical sexual assault against children, will submit a second representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Lawyer Datuk Hanif Hassan stated that the application follows the rejection of their first representation, which sought a review of the charges against Muhammad Habib Noh Mohd Zairi, 21; Muhammad Khunais Fathie Khabil, 20; Ahmad Nadzful Izham Azizan, 22; and Muhammad Fawzun Azim Ismail, 20, by the Negeri Sembilan state prosecution director.

“I confirm that we have received a response stating the representation has been dismissed. I have received instructions from my clients to file a second representation,” he said during proceedings before Judge Datin Surita Budin at the Seremban Sessions Court today.

Earlier during the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that the representations were dismissed by the state prosecution director.

The judge then set Dec 18 for case mention.

Meanwhile, Hanif, when approached by reporters, explained that the second representation would take into account the age of the accused.

“We will submit the second representation to the AGC for consideration… to review the charges to one with a reduced sentence, given that (three of) the accused are under 21 years old,” he said.