Court upholds woman’s RM60,000 award against ex-boyfriend for sexual harassment

 The victim had filed a complaint against the man with the anti-sexual harassment tribunal for spreading intimate pictures of her on social media.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision is an important achievement for the anti-sexual harassment tribunal, said the women, family and community development ministry.

PETALING JAYA:

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has upheld the anti-sexual harassment tribunal’s award of RM60,000 to a woman who was sexually harassed by her former boyfriend.

According to the women, family and community development ministry, the woman had filed a complaint against the man for spreading intimate pictures of her on social media without her permission.

In 2024, the tribunal ordered the man to pay the complainant RM60,000 in compensation, issue her an apology, and undergo counselling.

“The High Court’s decision is an important achievement that reflects how the anti-sexual harassment tribunal is a fast, accessible and effective mechanism to provide remedies to victims of sexual harassment, including digital sexual harassment,” the ministry said in a statement.

It said sexual harassment could be physical, verbal, non-verbal or visual, and urged victims to come forward and file complaints to the tribunal.

The tribunal was formed in March 2024 to provide victims an alternative channel to obtain justice instead of the civil courts.

Victims of sexual harassment may file complaints at the tribunal’s counter at the ministry’s headquarters or contact Talian Kasih at 15999. - FMT