Family upset over closure of ‘sugar daddy’ lecturer case

The family of a local university student who was allegedly sexually harassed by a lecturer has expressed frustration after police closed the case.

The alleged victim’s sister claimed police had informed the victim last Tuesday that among their reasons for closing the case was a lack of concrete evidence.

“The police cannot continue with the (sexual harassment) case as the incident does not appear as though the victim was forced and due to lack of evidence.

“The evidence so far is a recording of the lecturer’s voice, while there are no witnesses to record what happened,” she said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Last July, Malaysiakini reported that police were investigating the case after receiving a report on the alleged incident. The lecturer was arrested on June 24 and later released on bail.

Despite this, the authorities said then that investigations were ongoing.

Based on the report sighted by Malaysiakini, the 19-year-old student claimed the lecturer, from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Terengganu, called her to his office and proposed an RM500 monthly payment to be her “sugar daddy”, which meant sex and “other activities”.

The student also claimed the lecturer held her shoulders and tried to kiss her on the lips, but said she managed to escape.

In response, UiTM stated the matter was being probed by both the police and the university.

However, a source claimed the lecturer in question has been suspended for two months pending internal investigations, which began on July 16.

Meanwhile, Dungun district police chief Baharudin Abdullah told Malaysiakini today the case was closed by the deputy public prosecutor (DPP).

“I’ve checked, on Dec 5, the case was closed by the DPP and we have explained this to UiTM and the complainant,” he said when contacted.

UiTM, when contacted today, declined further comment, saying the matter had been left to the police. - Mkini