KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — A construction worker was sentenced to six months in jail and fined RM15,100 by four Magistrate's Courts today after he pleaded guilty to molesting five women at Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations around the Federal capital last month.
Bangladeshi national Md Romjan Ali, 41, entered his plea after the charges against him were read out before Magistrates Aina Azahra Arifin, Faezahnoor Hasan, Nurul Izzah Hasan Basri, and Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan.
Before Magistrate Aina, he was sentenced to three weeks’ jail from the date of his arrest on April 27 and fined RM3,500, in default four months’ jail, while before Magistrate Faezahnoor, he was ordered to serve three months’ imprisonment from the same date and fined RM3,000, in default three months’ jail.
Meanwhile, before Magistrate Nurul Izzah, the accused received a six-month jail term from the date of conviction today and was fined RM3,600 or six months’ imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine, while before Magistrate Farah Nabihah, he was fined RM5,000 or three months’ imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.
This brings the total fine to RM15,100, with the accused ordered to serve six months’ imprisonment beginning today.
According to the first to fifth charges, Romjan was accused of using criminal force with the intent to outrage the modesty of a German woman and four local women aged between 21 and 28.
The offences were committed on the pedestrian walkway of Chan Sow Lin LRT Station, around the Maluri MRT Station area, and on board a train travelling from Taman Midah MRT Station to Muzium Negara MRT Station between April 10 and April 25.
The charges were framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any combination thereof upon conviction.
Counsel T. Chandrasegaran, representing the accused, appealed for a reduced fine, saying his client had repented and promised not to repeat the offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Hench Goh, Nurainizatul Farhana Zainal and Nur Farhana Mohamad Poad, together with prosecuting officers Insp M. Alli Nangai and Insp M. Naresh Kumar, requested that the court impose a proportionate sentence as a deterrent, taking into account the public interest.
