Miqdam Amir, 24, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.

The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16(1) of the same Act, Berita Harian reported.

Miqdam is accused of touching the 13-year-old’s private parts when he was a hostel warden. The offence allegedly took place at a hostel room of Rumah Jagaan Harapan Al Mahabbah at Jalan Bagan Buaya in Nibong Tebal, Penang, at about midnight on July 11, 2022.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Amira Ruzaini Wan Abdul Razak appeared for the prosecution while Miqdam was represented by Naqieya Zulkernaim from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

The prosecution asked the court for a date to submit documents and requested for no bail to be allowed, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence.

However, Naqieya requested for a minimal bail amount as her client is working as a delivery man with no fixed income and has to support his aged parents, who suffer from high blood pressure.

She also said that there is no flight risk and that any decision on bail should be made merely to secure his attendance in court.

The judge then fixed bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Nov 14 for case mention.

He also ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month until the conclusion of the case.

Last month, three men linked to GISBH were charged in the sessions court in Seremban with a total of 14 counts of sexual assault on boys aged between nine and 11.