The ex-deputy youth leader of a political party pleads not guilty to misogyny and sexual violence

KOTA TINGI: A former deputy chairman of a youth political party in Mersing County has been charged with nine counts of physical sexual abuse and sodomy involving six teenagers between 2017 and last March, Malay daily Sinar Harian reported.

Zuraidi Mazlan, 37, demanded a trial on the charges when they were read to him before Sessions Judge Haida Farizal Abu Hasan here on Tuesday (October 29).

He is said to have committed seven incidents of physical sexual abuse against four teenagers aged 14, 15 and 16, touching their bodies, hugging and kissing them on the cheeks, and ordering one of the victims to perform oral sex with him, the daily reported. .

The prosecution was conducted under Section 14(a) and Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and caning on conviction.

Zuraidi was also charged with two counts of indecent intercourse by sodomizing the 14-year-old twins without their consent, according to the indictment.

The acts are said to have been committed at a fisherman’s house in Kampung Penyabong, Mersing, between early 2017 and March this year.

Charges under section 377C of the Criminal Code carry up to 20 years in prison and caning on conviction.

DPP Ahmad Khairuddin Khalid led the prosecution while the accused was not represented.

Ahmad Khairuddin offered bail of RM20,000 for each charge with additional conditions.

Zuraidi requested the reduction because he had to support his 57-year-old mother, 56-year-old stepfather and school-going child, as well as personal health conditions.

The judge set bail at 45,000 Malaysian ringgit with additional conditions including surrendering Zuraidi’s passport to the court, reporting monthly to the Mersing Police District Office and being prohibited from contacting victims and witnesses.

The court set December 11 for the next hearing of the case, including the submission of documents and the appointment of a defense attorney.