SHAH ALAM: The High Court has acquitted policewoman Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, better known as "Inspector Sheila", who was mistakenly charged twice with insulting the modesty of another officer.
The policewoman was granted a full acquittal in her appeal against a Magistrate Court decision which granted her a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
Shah Alam High Court judge Datuk Norsharidah Awang overturned the Selayang Magistrate's Court's ruling on Sheila Sharon, on grounds that the charge was not read to her nor was her plea recorded before the magistrate as required by law.
When contacted, Sheila Sharon's counsel, M. Manoharan said the Magistrate's Court granted the DNAA to his client on June 26 instead of acquitting her of the duplicate charge.
"The prosecution applied to withdraw the duplicate charge, citing a 'glitch in registration' in a charge against her under Section 509 of the Penal Code for allegedly outraging the modesty of L/Kpl Abdul Arif Farhan Abdul Razak.
"Due to the glitch, the Deputy Public Prosecutor then asked for a DNAA ruling," he said, adding that after the court ruling, the defence then filed an appeal at the High Court.
In the decision on Tuesday, Manoharan said his submission argued that the DNAA was wrong as the charge would "hang over the head" of his client forever.
"When the judge asked the DPP if my client would be charged again for the same charge, she said no.
"Since that is the case, my client should have been granted a DAA (discharge amounting to an acquittal) instead," he said.
Following the verdict, Sheila Sharon still faces three criminal charges for shouting at her colleagues and arguing with a female civilian.
The trial has been set for three days beginning Feb 5 next year.
Sheila Sharon, 35, an investigating officer at Bukit Aman's Criminal Commercial Investigation Department, got herself into hot water in early June when a viral video emerged showing her arguing with other police personnel and civilians.
She was detained on June 18 by Gombak police, subsequently released on police bail and was suspended from duties.
