MELAKA: A single mother was fined RM2,000 by the Magistrate’s Court in Ayer Keroh here after pleading guilty to offering sexual services.
Nasharimah Nanyan, 40, made the plea after the charge was read before Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani on Tuesday (May 19).
According to the charge, the accused was found offering sexual services for the purpose of prostitution in a hotel room in Kota Syahbandar, within the Melaka Tengah district, at about 8.15pm on May 14.
She was charged under Section 372B of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
Based on the facts of the case, the accused was detained during an operation after cops conducted a raid at the hotel room over alleged prostitution activities advertised through the WeChat application.
The raid later uncovered sexual activity involving the accused and a man.
Police also seized several items linked to the activity, including six sex-related devices, an eye mask and RM250 in cash.
The accused admitted working as a prostitute and offering a package priced at RM400 for a one-hour session when questioned by the police.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Syaza Nur Sharif urged the court to impose a higher fine as a lesson to the accused for being involved in immoral activities.
However, National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer Muhammad Izzuddin Ab Malek, representing the accused, appealed for a lower fine as the accused was a single mother.
He said the accused was also working as a hotel employee earning less than RM1,700 a month, had expressed remorse over her actions and promised not to repeat the offence.
The accused later paid the fine.
