V Retna, 25, made the plea in two separate courtrooms after the charges were read in Tamil before judges Norshila Kamaruddin and Ho Kwong Chin.

The welfare centre’s owner S Valan, 31, meanwhile claimed trial to four charges of sexual assault against children and carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

Retna was charged with committing physical sexual assault by touching a child’s body part and making a child touch the body part of himself or another person, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and whipping.

He was also charged with non-physical sexual assault, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum RM20,000 fine, as well as committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent.

Carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent is punishable by five to 20 years in prison and whipping.

The charges were framed under Sections 14(a), 14(b), 15(a)(i), and 15(a)(ii) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 as well as Section 377C of the Penal Code.

Retna, who was unrepresented, was charged with committing the offences at the children’s home between November last year and March 27.

The court denied him bail and fixed May 21 for sentencing.

Valan meanwhile claimed trial to four charges of physical sexual assault against boys aged 13 to 16 at the same location between March 18, 2019 and August last year.

Valan, who was represented by lawyers Amalia Daud and R Rashini, was allowed to post bail of RM30,000 while mention was fixed for June 10.

He was also ordered not to approach the victims and to report to the police every month.

There was a ruckus at the courthouse earlier as the two accused arrived, with victims’ parents lashing out at them over the offences committed.

Police officers kept the situation under control as they escorted the duo to their courtrooms.