Muhamad Faizal Abdul Kudus, 42, claimed trial to seven charges of abusing his seven children aged five to 14 and another charge of assaulting his Singaporean wife Ummu Nabilah Md Ehwan, 42.

He was charged with committing the offences between January and December last year at the Mutiara Idaman apartment, Solok Tengku here.

Faizal was charged in the sessions court before Judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001 for child abuse, which carries a maximum 10-year jail term and a RM20,000 fine or both.

He was then charged in another sessions court before Judge Norsalha Hamzah under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, which was read together with Section 326A of the same code. The charge carries a maximum one-year jail term and a fine extending up to RM2,000 or both, but Section 326A doubles the penalties.

The prosecution in the child abuse case declined to offer any bail citing fear that the accused might jeopardise the safety of the victims and witnesses. Faizal’s lawyer Md Yusuf Md Idris, however, asked for a low bail as his client only earned RM1,200 as a market worker and was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

Norsalha granted bail of RM60,000 in one surety, ordered him to report to the nearest police station twice a month and warned him not to stay in the same house as the victims. She also ordered his passport to be impounded and asked his family members and associates not to contact the victims and witnesses in the case.

Mazdi, meanwhile, granted bail of RM3,000. Faizal posted RM63,000 in bail.

Rais Imran Hamid, Muhammad Shahrezal Mohd Shukri and Syairah Aqilah Khalil prosecuted, while Muhamad Asri Abdul Hamid also appeared for the accused.