IPOH: A former administrative officer of a private college pleaded not guilty in the Magistrates' Court here to six charges of outraging modesty and committing sexual harassment through communication against six female students.
Roykarnaen Maseri, 44, entered his plea on Wednesday (Sept 9) after the charges were read out before magistrates S. Punitha and Norizan Riduan.
For the first two charges, before magistrate Punitha, Roykarnaen was accused of using criminal force with the intent to outrage the modesty of two female students, aged 19 and 22, inside an activity room at the college on Aug 5 at 6.12pm and Aug 6 at 6.15pm, respectively.
The charges were brought under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, fine, or caning, or any combination of two punishments, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Zulqarnain Wan Asmira proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety for both charges, along with additional conditions prohibiting the accused from contacting or intimidating witnesses and victims, and requiring him to report to the nearest police station monthly.
However, the accused's lawyer Aiman Rusli applied for total bail of RM3,000 on the grounds that his client had ceased employment at the college since Aug 17 and has no source of income.
"The accused was previously supporting his 72-year-old father, who suffers from diabetes, hypertension and other ailments, as well as his 58-year-old mother, who has arthritis.
"In addition, the accused also supports his wife and seven-year-old daughter. For the court's information, the accused himself also has diabetes and hypertension," he said.
Aiman also told the court that he had received information that the complainants had withdrawn their police reports against Roykarnaen on Aug 11, although he did not have copies of the reports with him on Wednesday.
The court then set bail at RM3,500 with one surety for both charges, along with the additional conditions sought by the prosecution, and fixed Oct 22 for the next case mention.
Meanwhile, before magistrate Norizan, Roykarnaen faced four charges of using sexually suggestive or obscene language against four female students aged between 19 and 22, with the intent to cause, or knowing that such communication was likely to cause, harassment, distress, fear or anxiety.
The alleged offences took place at several different locations, including inside a vehicle in Silibin, a dormitory room and an activity room at the college, as well as a residence in Halaman Meru Impian, between June 18 and Sept 6.
The charges were brought under Section 507B of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zarris Sofea Zainudin proposed bail at RM10,000 with two additional conditions that the accused report to the nearest police station twice a month until the conclusion of proceedings, and that he refrain from contacting or intimidating the victims and prosecution witnesses.
The court set total bail at RM4,500 with one surety for all charges, along with the additional conditions sought by the prosecution, and fixed Oct 22 for case mention. - Bernama
