A 19-year-old teenager has been fined RM3,500 by the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court after admitting to secretly recording his 19-year-old female neighbour while she was bathing.
Muhamad Syafiq Hidayat Mohd Syukur pleaded guilty after the amended charge was read before Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin on Tuesday.
According to the amended charge, the teenager intentionally insulted the victim’s modesty by recording her without her knowledge using a mobile phone while she was bathing, causing distress and violating her privacy. The offence was committed at about 5pm on September 8, 2025, in Batu 4, Batu Berendam, Melaka Tengah.
The charge was brought under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. The case has also drawn attention to the growing concern over privacy violations and the misuse of mobile devices.
The court heard that the victim’s parent lodged a police report after discovering that the accused had recorded the victim, leaving her feeling frightened and unsafe. It was also revealed that the accused, who was the victim’s neighbour, had allegedly committed similar acts on several previous occasions.
The accused, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, appealed for a lower fine of RM300, telling the court that he was supporting his family following his parents’ divorce. He also promised not to repeat the offence.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nur Alia Safri urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, arguing that the accused’s actions had seriously violated the victim’s dignity and modesty.
The court ultimately sentenced the teenager to a RM3,500 fine, with six months’ imprisonment in default if he fails to pay the fine.
