An unemployed man was fined RM10,000 by the Magistrates’ Court here today after pleading guilty to four charges involving acts intended to insult the dignity of four women.
Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid imposed the fine on Muhammad Hazim Ezwan Hazizi, 27, following his admission of guilt on all four charges.
However, the court ordered him to serve 24 months in prison after he failed to settle the fine imposed.
The first two charges involved allegations that the accused had made obscene gestures towards two women, aged 30 and 24, with the intention of insulting their dignity and disturbing their modesty.
For the third charge, Muhammad Hazim was accused of committing a similar act against a 54-year-old woman, while the fourth charge involved another woman, aged 31.
All four offences were allegedly committed between 11.35am and 11.50am on May 19, 2026, at a staircase and toilet area at the Machang Islamic Complex and the Machang Syariah Lower Court.
The accused was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Hazim Aqiffullah Mohd Amran urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, stressing the need to protect public interest and deter the accused from repeating the offences.
Defence lawyer Norhusniza Akmal Husain, meanwhile, sought a minimum fine, telling the court that her client had realised his mistake and promised not to repeat the offences.
A psychiatric report presented during the proceedings found that Muhammad Hazim was mentally sound at the time of the incidents and understood the nature and consequences of his actions.
