KUALA LUMPUR — Four teenage boys, including three students aged between 15 and 17, were charged in the Juvenile Court in Baling, Kedah, today for allegedly committing separate acts of physical sexual assault against a 15-year-old female student.

All the accused, accompanied by their respective guardians, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Judge Rohaida Ishak, BuletinTV3 reported today.

The proceedings were held behind closed doors.

According to the charges, they allegedly committed the physical sexual abuse at an oil palm plantation in Becah Sawa, Siong, and inside a classroom at a secondary school in the area. 

The offences were said to have occurred in June, July, and August.

All accused were charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and whipping if convicted.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Amirul Halimi Md Salleh, while none of the accused were represented by lawyers.

The court granted bail of RM3,000 for each accused with one surety and set November 27 as the next mention date.