KUCHING: A make-up artist pleaded not guilty at the Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday (Feb 3) to a charge of sexually assaulting his client, a 30-year-old groom, prior to the latter’s wedding ceremony.
The accused, 24, entered the plea after the charge was read before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nadzwa Radzali.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or whipping, or any two of such punishments upon conviction.
According to the charge, he allegedly committed the offence at about 5.40am on Saturday (Jan 31) at a residential apartment along Jalan Wan Alwi here.
He is accused of using criminal force on the victim with the intention of outraging the victim’s modesty.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazy applied for a new date for pre-trial case management and proposed bail at RM5,000.
However, defence counsel Abdul Rahman Mohamad Hazmi requested that the bail amount be reduced, submitting that his client posed no flight risk and would attend court proceedings as required.
He said the accused was willing to comply with bail conditions and had relatives who were prepared to stand as sureties.
He added that the accused and the proposed sureties were locals with no criminal record and were capable of ensuring the accused’s attendance in court.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa fixed March 6 for case management and allowed bail at RM2,500 with two local sureties.
It is understood that the accused had been hired by the complainant as a make-up artist for the wedding ceremony scheduled on Jan 31.
The complainant’s sister had reportedly booked an apartment unit for the complainant to prepare for the ceremony.
During the incident, the accused was said to be adjusting the groom’s attire when he allegedly acted inappropriately. The complainant resisted the act and subsequently lodged a police report.
The accused was arrested several hours after the incident on the same day.
