LRT flasher jailed three years

KUALA LUMPUR: A man who performed a lewd act in front of a woman aboard the LRT was sentenced to three years' jail by the Magistrate's Court here.

Amran Shah Abu Samah, 41, pleaded guilty to committing the indecent act on board the LRT in front of a 26-year-old hotel customer service officer.

He committed the offence in the train at Masjid Jamek station at 11.45pm on Aug 13 after tailing the victim from within the station and sitting in front of her inside the train.

Clad in a grey baju melayu and black trousers in court, Amran appeared calm and gave a lengthy mitigation before Magistrate Ashraf Rizal Abdul Manan stepped in to ask if he was delivering a "ceramah" (political speech).

Amran told the court that he was sorry and regretted his actions, but said he was unstable then as he had not slept for more than three days.

He also said the victim was partly to blame as he claimed she was dressed in "sexy clothes" the night of the incident.

Amran also said he was merely indulging himself and never touched the victim, to which the Magistrate sarcastically thanked him for keeping his "wild horse under control".

Amran was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of five years, a fine, or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Jazilah Mohd Yushaa urged the court to impose a deterrent punishment on Amran as public safety was paramount.

"There were many other vacant seats on the train, yet he chose to sit in front of the victim," Noor Jazilah said.

According to the Magistrate, Amran failed to show remorse and was focused on blaming others for his offence.

He ordered Amran to serve his three years' jail sentence beginning the day he was detained on Sept 2.