A man pleaded guilty on Saturday to committing an obscene act in public which landed him a BND1,500 fine.
Twenty-four-year-old Muhamad Sahrul Razi bin Japri was seen by a woman as she stood aghast, exposing himself at a commercial building in Kiulap close to noon on May 22, 2022.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Fitri binti Kiprawi revealed that the woman, who was working in the area at the time, immediately took her phone out to take a photo, but the defendant fled the scene. The woman filed a report the same day, enabling the police to track the defendant soon after.
On handing sentence, Senior Magistrate Hajah Sufitriana binti Haji Abdul Rahman said, “Sexual offences, such as that committed by the defendant, are not tolerated and the court must protect the society from perverted acts carried out in public.”
The defendant has been ordered to return to court on August 5 for a review of his payment, which he would have to serve six weeks’ jail in default of the fine. The Attorney General’s Chambers meanwhile reminded the public that such an offence carries a maximum of three years’ jail term and a fine ranging from BND500 to BND5,000.
A second or subsequent offence can lead an enhanced fine between from BND1,000 to BND30,000.
The provision is derived from the charge which comes under Section 294, Chapter 22 of the Penal Code where it states that any person who, to the annoyance of others, does any obscene act in any public place may face the penalties. – Fadley Faisal
