JOHOR BARU: A 26-year-old teacher has been charged at a Magistrate’s Court here with outraging a foreign woman’s modesty in his car while moonlighting as an e-hailing driver.
Civil servant Alvin Choo Chee Hong pleaded not guilty to the offence, which allegedly took place during a trip from a jewellery store in Jalan Harimau Tarum, Taman Century to a condominium in Tanjung Puteri.
The offence was said to have taken place between 5.30pm and 6pm on Feb 1.
The charge was framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any two of the punishments upon conviction.
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Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Syafiqah Sha’ari requested for bail of RM10,000.
Choo’s counsel Mark Jeyakumar appealed for a lower bail amount, saying that the offence was "not a serious one" to warrant such a high sum.
"(There is also no risk of) the accused... repeating his actions as he is no longer working as an e-hailing driver.
"There is no risk of him harassing the victim since he does not have her information," he said.
Magistrate A. Shaarmini set bail at RM2,000 with one surety and fixed March 13 for next mention.
On Feb 2, a video made the rounds on social media showing an e-hailing driver’s alleged sexual misconduct towards a Vietnamese passenger.
Police arrested 26-year-old man on Feb 4 following a report lodged by the victim on the same day.
The case has also drawn the attention of Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who said the his ministry had instructed the Road Transport Department to immediately revoke the Public Service Vehicle licence of the e-hailing driver involved in the alleged incident.
