A WOMAN was charged in the Alor Setar Magistrate’s Court today for spitting, using derogatory language and showing the middle finger at a police officer last month.
The accused, Teoh Siew Li, 35, was also charged with using words that hurt the feelings of Muslims towards the same police officer.
The company director and sales manager, pleaded not guilty as soon as the three charges were read out before Magistrate Nur Syifa Mohd. Hamzah.
According to the first charge, Siew Li was charged with using criminal force by spitting at a police officer, Lance Corporal Jelnazir Helman with the intention of preventing him from carrying out his duties at Jalan Perusahaan 2, Taman Bandar Baru Mergong at 12 noon, December 31.
The charge was made under Section 353 of the Penal Code (PC) which provides for a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine or both, if convicted.
For the second charge, he was charged with uttering insulting words and showing the middle finger to the police officer involved at the same location and date.
The charge was made under Section 509 of the PC which carries a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine or both.
The third charge was intentionally hurting the feelings of Muslims by uttering words insulting the religion of Islam also at the same location and time as the case charged under Section 298 of the PC which provides for a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine or both, if convicted.
State Director of Public Prosecutions, Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, at the proceedings proposed a high bail of RM5,000 for each charge.
He informed that the accused is also facing the same offence under Section 353 KK in the Taiping Magistrate's Court, in addition to there being more than 500 posts that caused racial and religious outrage involving the third charge. Siew Li, however, requested a reduced bail amount because she supports her mother, sister, and brother-in-law.
She stated that she has an income that can reach up to RM20,000 a month, in addition to being a law graduate from a private college.
The court set bail at RM12,000 with one surety and the case will be mentioned again on January 20 to appoint a lawyer. – January 4, 2025
