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A FORMER lawyer pleaded not guilty in the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court yesterday to two charges of molesting a woman in January.
The accused, Datuk Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah, 66, who is currently working as a legal advisor to a government agency, made the plea after both charges were read out against him before Magistrate Farah Azura Mohd Saad.
According to the first and second charges, Mohamad Shariff was charged with using criminal force against the 27-year-old victim with the intent to outrage her modesty.
The offence was allegedly committed in the parking lot and lobby of a business premise, Jalan Professor Diraja Ungku Aziz, between 3.44pm and 4.55pm on January 6.
The charge was brought under Section 354 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail sentence of 10 years or a fine or whipping or any two of these punishments, if convicted.
The prosecution proceedings were conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors, Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin and Aqharie Durranie Aziz, while lawyer Syed Azharul Asiq Syed Azhar represented the accused.
Magistrate Farah Azura then allowed the accused to be granted bail of RM3,000 with one surety for each charge and set January 13, 2026 for mention of the case for the submission of documents. – November 11, 2025