Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old massage therapist was sentenced to 20 months’ jail and ordered to receive two strokes of the cane on Friday for molesting a male client during a body massage session.
Ahmad Johan Yong Abdullah pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to using criminal force on a 38-year-old man with intent to outrage his modesty at a massage outlet in Imago Shopping Mall on June 21, this year, at 1.30pm.
Ahmad was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years’ jail, a fine, whipping, or any two of the punishments on conviction.
He had initially claimed trial to the charge on June 29 before changing his plea to guilty on Friday, when the case was scheduled for trial.
Earlier, the prosecution told the court that the complainant had sought a body massage at the premises and was wearing only boxer shorts when Ahmad, who worked there on an on-call basis, touched his private parts several times while massaging his thighs.
The complainant also said Ahmad touched his nipples and attempted to kiss his chest, causing him to feel uncomfortable.
The complainant said he had reprimanded Ahmad but his actions were ignored, prompting him to lodge a police report.
Ahmad, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronnie AK Anthony applied for a deterrent sentence.
Ahmad was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest.
In a separate case, a 28-year-old man was sentenced to six months’ jail for helping to dispose of stolen property.
Mohd Saifol Risamlih pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to intentionally helping to dispose of two Proton Saga car rims belonging to a woman at Taiko 1, Jalan Panglima Banting, Penampang, on June 23.
He was charged under Section 414 of the Penal Code, which carries between six months and seven years’ jail, a fine, or both, on conviction.
The prosecution told the court that the complainant lodged a police report on June 17 after two rims with tyres from her Proton Saga M2 were stolen while the car was parked at University Apartment 1, Manggatal.
Saifol was arrested on July 9 for investigation into the theft.
Based on his statement and information he provided, police recovered the rims which he had sold, together with several purchase receipts, from the said premises in Penampang.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Hafizah Anggu prosecuted.
