GEORGE TOWN: A doctor was charged in two separate magistrates' court here today with four counts of molesting and insulting his patients' modesty.
Goon Hoong Tatt 43, claimed trial to all four charges before magistrates Nur Fadrina Zulkhairi and Muhammad Amzar Ismail.
"'Faham' (I understand the charge). 'Tak mengaku' (I do not admit to the charge)," he told both courts when asked if he understood the charges and his pleas.
At Nur Fadrina's court, Goon faced three charges while at Muhammad Amzar's court, he faced one charge.
On the first count at Nur Fadrina's court, Goon is alleged to have with intention disgraced the honor of a foreign woman by directing her to remove her clothing at the Forensic Department's clinical examination room of the Penang Hospital about 9.15pm on Feb 20.
The charge was framed under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
On the second count, Goon is alleged to have used criminal force against the same woman with the intent to outrage her modesty by touching her breast at 9.25pm at the same place and day.
The charge was framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
On the third count, Goon is alleged to have with intention insulted the modesty of a the same woman by instructing her to run in place while naked about 9.30pm at the same place and day.
The charge was also framed under Section 509 of the Penal Code.
Deputy public prosecutor Lau Shavin prosecuted while Goon was represented by counsel N. Tishalini.
Lau asked the court to impose RM7,000 bail for each of the charges and to ensure that the accused refrained from disturbing the victim and prosecution witnesses until the end of the trial.
"If the court decides to impose a light bail, I request the court to order the accused to hand over his passport to the court," she said.
Tishalini pleaded for a lower bail, saying that her client has to care for his wife, a housewife, and two aged parents.
"My client is a government servant currently attached with the Penang Hospital and has served as a medical officer for the past 15 years since 2010.
"He had just completed his Masters in Forensic Pathology, and after deducting his statutory and study loans, he is left with just RM5,000 monthly," she said, adding that his client earned RM10,000.
Tishalini also told the court that both his parents, aged 73 and 80, were staying with him and that his mother was unwell.
She said if the mother's condition worsens, she would need to undergo surgery.
"As such, my client needs to be by her side at all times, and of no flight risk.
"My client has been cooperative so far. After being told by the investigating officer that he would be charged, he came on his own to court at 8am today.
"A bail is not punitive in nature and merely to secure his attendance in court. My client will also adhere to whatever additional condition set.
The court granted bail at RM3,500 for each of the charges with one surety and set Nov 27 for case mention.
Nur Fadrina also ordered the accused to keep away from the victim and prosecution witnesses.
She did not allow Lau's application for the accused to hand over his passport.
At Muhammad Amzar's court, Goon is alleged to have with intention insulted the dignity of another foreign woman by directing her to remove her clothing and run in place about 9.30pm in the same place on Feb 26.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Nur Farahin Ahmad prosecuted while Goon was represented by Tishalini.
Siti Nur Farahin asked the court to impose bail of RM9,000, and set an additional condition that the accused does not disturb the victim and prosecution witnesses until the end of the case.
The court granted bail at RM7,000 with one surety and set Nov 27 for case mention.
Muhammad Amzar also ordered the accused not to disturb the witness or prosecution witnesses until the end of the case.
It was reported in August that police had resubmitted the investigation paper into the case of a doctor allegedly involved in multiple cases of molest to the deputy public prosecutor for further instruction.
Three of the cases were reported in the northeast district, while the fourth and the most recent was in the southwest district.
The doctor was said to be working in a government hospital in the northeast district before being transferred to a government clinic in the southwest district.
All the alleged molest cases occurred at private clinics where he was working as a locum.
In the fourth incident, the victim claimed that on June 29, she sought treatment at a private clinic in Bayan Baru for abdominal pain.
While in the examination room, the doctor instructed the victim to remove her shirt and proceeded to touch her breasts.
Traumatised by the experience, the victim lodged a police report. - NST
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.