SEREMBAN: A 23-year-old lorry driver who slapped a woman's bottom and repeated the act when she confronted him has been fined RM3,500 in default five months' jail by a Magistrate's Court here.
Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli meted out the penalty on P. Ghanapathy on Friday (March 7) after he pleaded guilty to using criminal force to outrage a person's modesty.
He was charged with committing the offence against a 28-year-old woman at around 8.30pm on Tuesday (March 4) along Jalan Rasah.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years in jail, or a fine, or whipping, or any two of these punishments if found guilty.
According to the facts of the case, the victim was riding a motorcycle and heading home when the accused, on another motorcycle, committed the offence at the entrance to a petrol station.
The terrified victim then rode into the petrol station and waited for about 10 minutes before deciding to return home.
As she was about to leave, she saw the accused again and asked why he had touched her.
The accused did not answer but instead repeated the act before riding off.
Deputy public prosecutor Norshafatihah Nor Azmi asked the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the crime as the victim had been traumatised by the incident.
She said this should also serve as a deterrent to others.
The accused, who was represented by a lawyer from the Legal Aid Department, pleaded for a minimum fine as he was remorseful and this was his first offence.
He told the court that he only earned RM1,500 a month and had to provide for his parents.
