A 61-year-old man, Gerard Idit, was fined RM2,000 or faces five months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court for molesting a 20-year-old woman.
Gerard pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to committing the offence on April 9 at a hotel banquet office. The victim, a part-time worker, had been resting alone after feeling unwell when Gerard, the banquet manager, entered, held her by the neck, and molested her.
He was arrested following the victim’s report and charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years’ jail, a fine, whipping, or any two of these penalties upon conviction. During mitigation, his lawyer cited his remorse, cooperation, and lack of prior offences, requesting a good behaviour bond.
In a separate matter, two individuals were fined RM100 each or jailed three days for failing to satisfactorily explain suspicious funds in their bank accounts.
Muhd Waiz admitted to holding RM6,000 in his CIMB account on October 24, 2024, believed to be fraudulently obtained from Rozanna Putit via an online forex scheme. Waiz had been arrested on May 19 after the complainant reported losing RM7,000.
Aainaa Husna had RM210 in her Hong Leong Bank account on July 11, 2024, from a part-time “subscribe and like” Telegram task. The complainant lost RM976.40 after being asked for additional payments, and Aainaa failed to justify the credited amount.
Both were charged under Section 22A(1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance (Sabah), which carries a fine of up to RM100 or up to three months’ jail. The cases were prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Yousof Tahir Mahmood and Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah.
