HULU SELANGOR: An Indonesian woman was jailed four years and fined RM3,000 by the Kuala Kubu Baru magistrate's court for outraging the modesty of a woman in a toilet of an automotive company four years ago.
Sessions Court Judge Siti Fatimah Talib, who presided as magistrate, in her grounds of judgement dated Dec 26 said the facts of the case read that the accused, who works as a cleaner, had outraged the modesty of the 28-year-old victim by touching her buttocks, breasts and private part against her will.
The incident took place at about 10.47am on June 10, 2023 when the victim bumped into the accused in the women's toilet and she had suddenly touched her inappropriately.
The victim, shocked by the act, had pushed the accused away.
However, the accused had once again touched the victim's breasts.
Two days later, a team from the Hulu Selangor district police headquarter's Criminal Investigation Department arrested the accused under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Judge Siti Fatimah said the court had considered mitigation factors, submissions of the prosecution, severity of the offence and public interest in handing down the sentence against the accused.
"The offence committed by the accused had shamed and could possibly cause trauma to the victim.
"The court takes into consideration that such an act is a serious form of crime, which had degraded the victim's dignity.
"The four-year jail sentence from date of arrest and RM3,000 fine, in default 12-months jail, is fair, reasonable and appropriate with the offence committed by the accused against the victim.
"The court hopes the jail term and fine will serve as a lesson to the accused to be a more responsible human for her future actions and repent on her past sins," she said.
She added the sentence was also a message to the public not to get involved in crimes like this.
The accused was charged on June 22 last year at the magistrate's court where she claimed trial.
However, on Aug 15, the accused made a guilt plea.
The prosecution presented its facts of the case which the accused admitted to and the court accepted her guilty plea.
