Fadley Faisal
The Magistrate’s Court yesterday sentenced a Bangladeshi man to eight months’ jail and one stroke of the cane for sexually assaulting a foreign domestic helper at a household.
Abdul Baten, 46, pleaded guilty to the charge of using criminal force against the woman.
DPP Raihan Nabilah binti Haji Ahmad Ghazali revealed in court that on the morning of January 5, the defendant had been hired to carry out yard work at a Jalan Haji Halus home in Kampong Bunut. By 3pm, the defendant had realised the 43-year-old domestic helper was alone in the kitchen. He approached with the intention of propositioning her.
The victim was taken by surprise. While standing by the kitchen sink, the defendant wrapped his arms around her from behind, before asking her to slip away with him for five minutes.
Aghast by his actions, the victim elbowed the defendant repeatedly until she was able to break free. This caused the defendant to fall to the ground, but not without grabbing her leg first.
The victim kicked the defendant in the face and ran out of the house. The defendant followed, offering the victim BND20 for sexual services. He also warned her not to inform her employer.
Soon after, the household driver returned home. At the insistence of the victim, the driver told the defendant to leave immediately.
The victim confided in the driver and the next day, lodged a police report. The police arrested the defendant on February 2.
Senior Magistrate Azrimah binti Abdul Rahman presided over the case.
