IPOH: A bank officer was charged in the magistrate's court here today with two counts of insulting the modesty of his female colleague three years ago.
The accused, Rosman Jamaluddin, 52, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before magistrate S. Punitha.
According to the charge sheet, the accused had the intention of humiliating his female colleague by sending her WhatsApp messages containing obscene content.
The offences were allegedly committed at No. 67, Jalan Perajurit, Ipoh Garden East, on May 20, 2021, at 10.52pm and Aug 8, 2021, at 12.08am.
He was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum five-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Hidayu Zakaria requested RM5,000 bail with the additional condition that the accused must not disturb the victim.
The accused's lawyer, Khairil Azwar Khalil, appealed to the court to reduce the bail amount, considering that the defendant suffers from high blood pressure and a slipped disc and is also responsible for supporting a wife and four children who are still studying.
Khairil Azwar also requested that the court issue an order to prevent the case from being discussed outside of court via social media before a decision is made.
He said certain parties discussing the case on social media had caused the defendant to face cyberbullying, leading to the need for psychiatric treatment and resulting in the defendant having to take leave.
Magistrate S. Punitha set bail at RM2,500 for all charges, with the additional condition that the defendant must not disturb the victim.
The court also advised the prosecution and police to ensure that no prejudicial comments about the case are made on social media.
The court set Nov 25 for mention.