An Indian construction worker pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to charges of molesting a male e-hailing driver last December.
The accused, 42-year-old M Muthupalani, entered his plea before Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani after the charge was read.
According to the charge, Muthupalani is accused of using criminal force against the 65-year-old victim with the intent to outrage his modesty. The alleged incident occurred on 29 December 2025 at around 9:25 pm inside a Perodua Bezza while travelling from NSK Cheng to Medan Selera Cheng in the Melaka Tengah district.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Syauqi Mardia Baharudin requested bail of RM7,000.
However, the accused’s lawyer, Daniel Savarimuthu, requested a lower bail, citing that his client supports two children, has a non-working wife, and elderly parents in India.
The court allowed bail of RM4,000 with one surety and set 3 March for the next mention of the case.
