School Bus Driver Charged In Court For Alleged Sexual Offences Against Minors
He is charged under Section 14(a) and 15(a)(iii) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
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A 24-year-old school bus driver, previously known online as “Abang Bas,” was charged in the Muar Sessions Court for alleged sexual offences against minors.
According to Awani, the accused, visibly emotional in the dock, pleaded not guilty to two charges read before Judge Sayani Mohd Nor.
“Abang Bas” Might Face More Than Bumpy Roads Ahead
The first charge accuses him of physical sexual assault by kissing the cheek of his 4-year-old niece for sexual purposes between April and September 2024.
This offence falls under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and whipping.
‘Abang Bas’ didakwa lakukan amang seksual, menangis di kandang tertuduh#AWANInews #AWANI745https://t.co/kWkGFPhvJH
— Astro AWANI (@501Awani) September 10, 2024
The second charge involves non-physical sexual assault, alleging that he repeatedly observed a 9-year-old girl for sexual purposes.
This offence, under Section 15(a)(iii) of the same Act, is punishable by up to 10 years in jail or a fine up to RM20,000 or both.
State Prosecution Director Abdul Ghafar Ab Latif requested bail of RM50,000 for each charge, citing the case’s serious nature and public interest.
The judge set bail at RM30,000 for both charges combined and scheduled the next hearing for October 10.
Quick Recap On Everything That Happened
The case gained national attention when the bus driver, known as “Abang Bas,” posted a series of inappropriate TikTok videos featuring young passengers from his school bus.
Many have spoken up about this suspicious tiktok account which has more than 600k followers.
— Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) September 5, 2024
The captions don’t sit right with me. You don’t post someone’s daughter who’s still in primary school with the caption “harini crush kita buat homework”.
Dahlah record minor. pic.twitter.com/JYfw3ar7Dj
These videos included disturbing content such as referring to a young girl as his “crush” and filming himself caressing a sleeping child’s lips and kissing her forehead.
The incident sparked significant concern on social media, prompting Nancy Shukri, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, to condemn the actions strongly.
This behaviour is not accepted and shouldn’t be normalised.
— Nancy Shukri (@NancyShukri) September 5, 2024
I have instructed the officers from Jabatan Pembangunan Kanak-Kanak (JPKK) to file a police report immediately and we are ready to cooperate with D11 IPK Johor. https://t.co/kj22seEv6K
She ordered a police report to be filed, emphasizing that sharing videos of children without parental consent violates their rights and privacy under Malaysian law.
Initially, “Abang Bas” attempted to defend himself in a live TikTok session, claiming parental awareness and approval of his content.
Kenyataan yang dikeluarkan suspek sebelum dia ditangkap polis pada 2.57 pagi tadi..🤔pic.twitter.com/lYtmKhFUKt
— JalaIMisai (@jllmisai) September 6, 2024
However, this explanation failed to alleviate public concern, instead igniting a broader discussion on child safety in the digital age and the responsibilities of those in positions of trust with children.
Professionalism Is Key, Netizens Agree
The incident has generated significant discussion among netizens, with many expressing strong opinions on the matter.
Kalau kerja kau pemandu bas, pandu sahaja bas tu. Jangan sibuk nak cium budak dan rakam. Budak itu tanggungjawab kau tapi kau pula dedahkan dia kepada bahaya.
— Roman Akramovich (@SyedAkramin) September 10, 2024
Begitu juga yang lain. Dalam kerja atau tugasan ada tanggungjawab dan amanah. Tunaikan.
pic.twitter.com/cXSoEAf68D
Netizens share a common sentiment regarding the importance of maintaining professionalism while on duty and discussions about responsible social media use.
Many pointed out that this incident could have been entirely avoided if the driver had focused solely on his job responsibilities rather than engaging in inappropriate behavior for social media content.
One user, identifying as a lawyer, emphasized the potential for escalation in such cases, stating that incidents like these can lead to more significant harm if not addressed promptly.
Another user questionned whether creating social media content was worth the severe consequences the driver now faces, which in all seriousness, is really not worth all the trouble.
betul. lebih penting jgn nak buat content dan share video mengarut kat socmed
— Azha (@mohdazha) September 10, 2024
A netizen who identified himself as a father has expressed deep discomfort at the thought of his own child being filmed in such a predicament.
He states that regardless of the creator’s intentions, exposing children in this manner could potentially make them targets for actual predators on the internet.
This father’s concern resonated with many, underscoring the very real dangers that can arise from seemingly innocent or misguided attempts at creating viral content featuring minors.
Unethical Acts Will Always Come With Consequences
Many expressed relief that the authorities were taking the matter seriously, viewing it as a necessary step in safeguarding children and holding those in positions of trust accountable for their actions.
Throughout this ordeal, netizens emphasized the importance of carefully considering the appropriateness of content before posting, particularly when it involves minors.
The pursuit of online attention should never come at the expense of professional ethics or the safety and well-being of others, especially children.
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