> Teacher claims trial to inciting pupils to perform lewd acts

A school senior assistant pleaded not guilty to eight counts of inciting two pupils to perform gross acts of indecency over a two-year period.

Mohd Harith Mohd Nor, 40, from Sek Keb Wawasan in Seremban 2, claimed trial before magistrate Nor Azlina Hashim.

He allegedly committed the acts between October 2006 and August 2008 at several places, including his house and a swimming pool.

Mohd Harith was charged under Section 377E of the Penal Code which carries a maximum five-year jail term and whipping.

Five of the eight charges allege Mohd Harith had committed these acts on an 11-year-old in 2006, while they were on their way to the Paroi Stadium and to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, and at the accused’s office in school.

The other two places were at the Seremban 2 Sports Complex swimming pool and at the accused’s house in Taman Arowana Impian.

The acts were alleged to have taken place between October 2006 and March 2008.

In the following three charges, Mohd Harith allegedly committed the acts on another 11-year-old pupil between November 2007 and August 2008.

The acts were allegedly committed at the accused’s office and his home.

Mohd Harith, wearing a purple lock-up T-shirt, was calm throughout the proceedings.

However, he cried when his mother walked up and hugged him.

Also present in court were the accused’s wife and relatives.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Fairuz Syuhada Amran requested the court impose a RM2,500 bail for each of the eight charges.

Counsel M. Gobinathan appealed for a RM2,000 bail for each charge, saying his client had been cooperative with the police.

“My client has served the government for the past 18 years. His wife is pursuing her tertiary education, setting a high bail will bring hardship to the family,” he said, adding that the couple have a five-year-old daughter.

Nor Azlina set bail at RM15,500 with one surety and fixed Dec 1 for re-mention. Mohd Harith’s wife posted bail.

> Mum makes son snatch seat from old man, then both pretend to sleep

STOMPer Disgusted says this woman pulled her son to take up a seat beside her, right after a foreign worker got up to offer the seat to an old man.

The STOMPer recounts:

“On October 26, in an MRT train, a nice foreign worker saw an old man standing, thus he got up, freeing up a seat for him.

“However the disgusting auntie who was sitting beside him, immediately pulled her son who was standing to take up the seat, leaving the old man standing in the crowded train.

“Obviously they saw the old man, as the son was standing right beside him!

“My friends and I gave them the disgusted look, and commented loudly that Priority Seats should be given to needy people, but to our horror, both the mother and son pretended to fall asleep and ignore us completely!

“No wonder there is this saying, ‘Like mother like son’!”