MELAKA: A 25-year-old accountant was fined RM4,500 by the Magistrate's Court in Ayer Keroh here for installing a mini camera in a ladies' toilet.
The sentence against Chong Soon Hoe, was meted out by Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Suleiman after the accused pleaded guilty to the offence on Friday (May 10).
According to the charge sheet, Chong had fixed the camera on a tissue holder in the ladies' toilet that had insulted the modesty of a 28-year-old female colleague.
The offence was committed at an office premises along Jalan Tun Perak in the Melaka Tengah district at 4.30pm on May 7.
The charge was framed under Section 509 of the Penal Code for insulting the modesty of a woman which carries up to a five-year jail term or fine or both upon conviction.
The facts of the case also stated that the victim, who is a tax consultant, discovered the mini camera in the toilet on May 7 and later found out that her image was recorded while she was in the restroom.
After checking it using a laptop, the victim found the CCTV was installed by the accused.
Prosecution was carried out by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Nabihah Sofian while Chong was represented by lawyer Kent Tan Chow Teng.
His lawyer told the court that Chong is a first-class honours degree holder in accountancy and has no previous criminal record and has to care for his sickly parents.
The court was also told Chong is the only child and plans to pursue his further studies in Singapore.
Tan also applied to the court to use its discretion to release Chong on a good behaviour bond based on Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code and for the latter not to be jailed.
The court imposed the fine in default of a six-month jail term if he failed to pay the fine.
Chong paid the fine.
