BAHAU: A 24-year-old rubber tapper claimed trial in the Magistrate’s Court here on a charge of outraging the modesty of his sister-in-law.
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before magistrate Norshazwani Ishak.
He was accused of using criminal force with the intention to outrage the modesty of the 26-year-old woman at a house in Felda Palong 11, Gemas, at around 6pm on Oct 30. The charge came under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides a sentence of up to 10 years’ jail or a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.
Siti Huzaifah Abdul Talib prosecuted, while the accused was represented by Lee Ee San from the Legal Aid Department.
Magistrate Norshazwani offered a bail of RM9,000 in one surety. The accused was also barred from contacting the victim till the case is disposed of.
The court then fixed Dec 16 for remention.
Prior to this, the police had said that the accused was believed to have molested his sister-in-law, who is a mother of three, at her in-laws’ house.
There were no other family members at home at the time.
Initial police investigations revealed that the suspect had tested positive for drug abuse when he was detained.
