Fawzun Azim Ismail, 20, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Surita Budin, Utusan Malaysia reported.

The accused, who is a teaching assistant, was accused of committing the offence at a religious school in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan last year.

He faces four charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for touching the body of a child for sexual purposes, and two under Section 14(b) of the same Act for making a child touch the body of another.

The offences are punishable with imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The court fixed bail at RM12,000 for each charge in one surety and ordered the accused not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and victims, report to a police station monthly and surrender his passport.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi prosecuted, while Fawzun was unrepresented.

The court fixed Oct 30 for re-mention of the case, submission of relevant documents as well as appointment of defence counsel for the accused.

Yesterday, it was reported that three teaching assistants from the same religious school also claimed trial to 14 charges of sexually assaulting five children aged between nine and 11.

Habib Noh Zairi, 21, Khunais Fathie Khabil, 20, and Ahmad Nadzful Izham Azizan, 22, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before Surita.

Habib was charged with five counts of sexual assault on three boys between the ages of nine and 10, in 2022.

Nadzful was charged with three counts of sexually assaulting two boys, both aged 10, between June and December 2023.

Khunais was slapped with six counts of sexually assaulting two boys, both aged 11, in 2023.