KLANG: A preacher pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to nine charges of committing rape, sexual assault and unnatural sex on a teenager between June 2021 and February this year.
Muhammad Fathi Na'im Mazlam, 30, who is also known as Ustaz Fathi Naim, made the plea before judge Syafeera Mohd Said.
The man, who has three wives and eight children, was charged with seven counts of rape and one count each of sexual assault and unnatural sex on a 14-year-old girl.
The offences were allegedly committed in a Toyota Vellfire in front of a surau, in the parking lot of Dataran Eco World and in a hotel in the vicinity of Bandar Puncak Alam near here, between June 2021 and February this year.
The charges for rape and sexual assault were framed under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code and Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, respectively, which provide for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping if convicted.
On the charge of committing unnatural sex, Fathi Na'im was charged under Section 377CA of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and whipping, if found guilty.
He was allowed bail of RM40,000 with one surety for all the charges. He was ordered to report at a police station once a month and warned not to intimidate the victim and witnesses in the case.
The court fixed Jan 10 next year for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Ku Hayati Ku Haron, who is also Selangor prosecution director, prosecuted. She is assisted by deputy public prosecutors Aqharie Durranie and Nurul 'Izzati Mohamad.
Lawyer Samry Masri represented the accused. -- Bernama