The Klang sessions court found him guilty of two counts of committing physical sexual assault on the 17-year-old after finding that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt at the close of its case.

Azman was convicted under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for committing physical sexual assault on the teenager at a homestay in Kampung Sungai Udang, Klang, at 12.15am on Feb 20, 2022, and at 1am on June 29, 2022.

Judge Noridah Adam sentenced Azman, 43, to 12 years’ jail and one stroke of the rotan on each charge. She ordered the sentences to run consecutively.

She also ordered Azman to undergo counselling throughout his time in prison and directed that he be monitored by the police for two years after his release.

On Dec 26, the court ordered Azman to enter his defence after finding that the prosecution had proved a prima facie case against him.

Azman faces another nine charges elsewhere – five in the Seremban sessions court, two in the Shah Alam court, one in the Klang magistrates’ court, and one in the Ampang sessions court.