KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman with a “Datuk Seri” title claimed trial at the magistrates’ court here today when he was charged with molesting his daughter through the use of criminal force.
The businessman faces two charges under Section 354 of Penal Code for alleged use of criminal force on a person with intent to outrage modesty. He is alleged to have committed the offences at a house at Jalan Sentul between July 16 last year and Jan 9 this year.
If convicted for molestation, he will face a maximum of 10 years in jail or a fine, or whipping, or any of two sentences.
The 49-year-old accused was also slapped with one charge under Section 509 of the same law for allegedly outraging his 20-year-old daughter’s modesty.
He is alleged to have used obscene words against her at the same location on July 17 last year.
He will face a maximum of five years in jail or a fine, or both if convicted on this charge.
The name of the accused is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Josiendra Abu Senin offered a sum of RM100,000 as bail to the accused.
“We urged the court to compound his passport pending the disposal of the trial and to warn him not to disturb any witnesses,” he said.
The accused’s lawyer, M Puravalen, told the court the prosecution’s fear of witness tampering did not exist because the daughter and her siblings were no longer staying with him.
He said his client had provided full cooperation to police during the investigation and had been released on police bail.
Magistrate Wong Chai Sia set bail of RM25,000 for all three charges and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court. She fixed April 27 for next mention of the case.
“The accused person is not allowed to disturb any witnesses,” she said.
Lawyer Wong Hong Yi assisted Puravalen, and DPP Md Azhari Abu Hanit assisted Josiendra.
Lawyer K Ganesh held a watching brief for the man’s daughter. - FMT
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