AN Islamic tutor slipped his hand under a copy of the Koran and groped a 13-year-old girl’s thigh as she read at his home, a court has heard.
Wali Muhammed, 41, allegedly touched the teenager’s bottom while teaching her at his home in upmarket Belgravia, central London.
The girl said she initially thought Muhammed was a “bit of a klutz” but police were called in after she confided in her mother, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Tim Forster, prosecuting, said the girl was first sent to Muhammed’s home to study the Islamic holy book by her mother in October 2014.
Mr Forster told the court: “The lessons were arranged by her mother and the woman who was supposed to be taking the lessons or giving the lessons was the wife of this defendant.
“As lessons went on the defendant – who is a teacher at a school – would come home and be present during some of the lessons.”
The girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was sat on the floor with other pupils while Muhammed sat on the sofa.
Mr Forster went on: “According to the victim the defendant, while sitting on the sofa, would start touching her feet with his feet.
“Initially she thought that was just him being clumsy or, as she out it, a bit of a klutz.”
But Muhammed went on to twice touch the girl in a sexual manner, jurors heard.
The prosecutor said: “Firstly on one of the occasions she says that as she was kneeling in front of him he touched her bum with, it appears, his foot.
The girl became “uncomfortable” and eventually told her mother about the incidents.
Police were called and took a statement from the girl.
Muhammed was later arrested and in interview with police denied doing anything improper.
“A teacher who has a child in a classroom and was teaching that child and asking them to read and putting their hand on that child’s lower back or bum or thigh would be questionable behaviour.”
Muhammed, of Semley Place, Belgravia, denies two counts of sexual assault.
The trial continues.
