KUCHING: A 26-year-old man was sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here today after pleading guilty to outraging the modesty of a 21-year-old woman while she was asleep.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali handed down the sentence against Mohd Fazeariq Maskornia, ordering the jail term to commence from the date of conviction, June 16.
Mohd Fazeariq was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code for using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of his friend’s sister.
The offence carries a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a fine, whipping, or any two of such punishments upon conviction.
According to the charge, he committed the offence at about 5.50 am on April 22 at a house located in Kampung Sourabaya Hilir, Petrajaya.
Facts of the case revealed that the victim was asleep in a bedroom on the upper floor of the house when the accused entered the room through an unlocked door.
The accused then intentionally touched and stroked the victim’s waist and buttocks without her consent.
The victim woke up during the incident and saw the accused standing beside her bed. He subsequently fled the scene.
The victim lodged a police report following the incident, leading to an investigation by the Kuching District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division.
The accused was arrested later the same day at about 4 pm.
Investigations established sufficient evidence linking him to the offence, resulting in the charge being brought under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani, while the accused were unrepresented.
