JOHOR BARU: Chess coach Yee Jeun Fui, 35, claimed trial today to two counts of molesting two of his students, aged 9 and 14, in March and June of this year.
Yee was charged under Section 377E of the Penal Code for allegedly using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of a 9-year-old boy during a chess tutoring class in Kulai on June 30 at 4.15pm.
Yee allegedly touched the boy’s genitals.
For the second charge, Yee is alleged to have touched a 14-year-old boy inappropriately in a car in Kulai at 10.30pm on March 21.
He was charged under Section 377D of the same Act.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Asmah Zainal Arifin offered bail at RM20,000, but defence counsel H.K. Yoong asked for a lower amount, as he said Yee, who is married with a child, earns just RM3,000 a month.
Sessions court judge Mohammad Khalid Ab. Karim reduced the bail to RM10,000.
The court fixed Sept 5 for mention of the case.
In a surprising twist to the case, Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) secretary Peter Long told the New Straits Times that Yee is not a member of the MCF, nor of the Johor Chess Association (JCA).
Long said the MCF is investigating what Yee's role has been with regards to international chess tournaments.
"If he was participating in the tournaments as an arbiter, then he certainly wasn't qualified.
"In this case, we have to seek (each) organiser's clarification on Yee's role in their events.
"We hope that the relevant authorities will make it mandatory for the screening of tutors or anyone who works with young children, to keep children safe," Long added.
It is learnt that Yee, who is a member of the Kelab Catur Bandar Kulaijaya, which was founded in April 2014, started playing chess in secondary school and had been giving chess lessons since he was 16.
On his Facebook page, Yee can be seen at a chess tournament in Mongolia in the presence of children.
A source also revealed that he has an upcoming chess event in Hong Kong.
Yee, who is also known as Kenny, was in court today, accompanied by his wife and a male friend.