BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Kamiluddin, a 25-year-old Indonesian man, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and one stroke of the cane on Monday (Aug 19) after he pled guilty to four charges of outraging the modesty of a female colleague.
The defendant, who was employed as an assistant cook at a restaurant in Batu Satu, was said to have committed the offences between July 5 and Aug 8 at a staff house in Jalan Tutong.
The defendant had used “criminal force” to sexually assault the 24-year-old victim, who worked as a waitress at the same restaurant and lived in the same staff house as the defendant.
The prosecution, led by Siti Mu’izzah Sabli, presented the account of each incident. The first charge involved the defendant entering the victim’s room on July 5, where he pushed her onto the bed, pressed his body against hers and kissed her neck.
Similar incidents occurred on subsequent dates, with the defendant repeatedly attempting to kiss the victim, despite her efforts to escape and call for help.
The defendant admitted to his actions, claiming he was sexually attracted to the victim. He further admitted to attempting to kiss her on the lips on several occasions.
The prosecution emphasised the seriousness of the offences, noting that the defendant’s actions had caused significant distress to the victim, who fled the staff house after the final incident to seek help from her employer.
Magistrate Syaffina Shahif, who handed down the sentence, noted the gravity of the offences and the need to send a clear message that such behaviour would not be tolerated. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN