KUALA LUMPUR: A man, who went viral for molesting a woman in a home improvement store at a hypermarket in Selayang earlier this month, was charged at the magistrate's court today.
However, Irwan Iesa, 38, an e-hailing driver, claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin.
He was accused of using criminal force on the victim aged 38 to outrage her modesty by deliberately touching her buttocks with the palm of his right hand.
He had committed the offence at about 2pm on June 4 at the premises.
The charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code carries a maximum 10-year jail term or with fine or both with whipping or any two of such punishments.
Deputy public prosecutor Izzat Amir Idham urged the court to set bail at RM7,000 with one surety.
Irwan, who was represented by lawyer Gan Sing Yee from the National Legal Aid Foundation, pleaded for a lower bail.
Gan said this as Irwan's wife was heavily pregnant and could not afford the proposed bail sum.
Gan said Irwan had said he had accidentally bumped into the victim while at the premises.
The court set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Aug 10 for mention.
The incident, caught on a closed circuit television camera, posted on the X account of Asal Gombak went viral and its author urged those with information on the man to come forward.
On June 7, Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari confirmed that the woman had lodged a police report and the case was being probed.