A policeman with the rank of lance corporal pleaded not guilty in a Perak court today to three charges of insulting the modesty of an Orang Asli woman at an oil palm plantation and injuring her two weeks ago.
Utusan Malaysia reported that Karisa Karim, 28, was charged in the Parit magistrates’ court before magistrate Nurul Izalina Rajaai.
Karisa, who is stationed at the Ulu Kinta General Operations Force camp, was accused of using criminal force against a 21-year-old woman with the intent of insulting her modesty.
He allegedly committed the offence at an oil palm plantation near Kampung Asli Chenderong Kelubi, Kampung Gajah, Perak Tengah at 3.10am on Sept 21.
The charge was made under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, whipping or any two of the punishments upon conviction.
Karisa was also accused of voluntarily causing hurt to the victim and insulting her modesty by taking a photograph of her in a state of undress with his mobile phone at the same place, time and date.
The charge of causing hurt was made under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to a year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000 or both.
The charge of insulting modesty was made under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.
The prosecution was managed by deputy public prosecutor Wan Ameerul Nazhif Wan Zulfikri while Karisa was represented by lawyer Jeyamaran Sandanasamy from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Wan Ameerul proposed bail of RM4,000 for each charge, but Jeyamaran requested the minimum amount, saying his client, who makes RM2,000 a month in his rank as a policeman, also supports his mother and suffers from anxiety, for which he previously received medical treatment.
The court set bail at RM2,000 for each charge and set Oct 29 for the case to be mentioned again and the appointment of a lawyer.
