Desmond Tan, 20, made the plea after the charge was read out by an interpreter before Muar sessions court judge Abu Bakar Manat, Berita Harian reported.

Tan was charged under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 with being in possession of child pornography at a church in Sialin Commercial Centre, Muar, at 9pm on June 29.

He could face up to five years in jail, a RM10,000 fine, or both.

The court fixed Aug 27 for the submission of a social welfare department report and to deliver its sentence.

Deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir prosecuted while Tan was not represented.

The court granted him bail of RM7,000 in one surety and ordered Tan to report to the Muar police headquarters every month until the case is disposed of.

Separately, Tan pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to a charge of possessing obscene images on the same date and time.

He was charged under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which deals with the distribution or possession of obscene material. This offence is punishable by a maximum three-year jail sentence, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Magistrate Fatin Dalilah Khalid allowed Tan bail of RM2,000. The next mention of the case will be on Aug 27.