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The Star/Asia News Network
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013
JOHOR BARU - A Philippine national has claimed trial to outraging the modesty of a 14-year-old student at an international school where he works as a music teacher.
Rolando Suarez Fernandez, 48, pleaded not guilty to molesting the underage student at around 9.45am in a music room at Austin Heights International School here on May 23.
The charge, under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or criminal intimidation with the intention to outrage modesty, was read before Magistrate Mohd Azlan Shah Mohd Allias here yesterday.
If convicted, the accused faces a maximum jail term of 10 years, whipping or both.
DPP Fithril Hakim Ab Jalil requested for a bail of RM15,000 with one surety but Fernandez's lawyer Hazza Khalid proposed for a lower bail of RM10,000, saying that the accused cooperated with the authorities and had turned himself in.
Hazza also said that there was no possibility of the accused absconding as he came to Malaysia with his family to work in 2011.
"He has two children, aged 14 and 16 years, who are also schooling here," he added.
Mohd Azlan Shah set bail at RM10,000 with one surety, who must be a Malaysian, and fixed July 22 for next mention.
