SEPANG: A 16-year-old Moroccan student pleaded guilty at the magistrate's court here today to outraging the modesty of a woman during a flight from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The teenager entered his plea after the charge was read out to him before magistrate Muhammad Bukhori Md Ruslan.
The court, however, will sentence him after receiving a social report from the Welfare Department on Feb 19.
He was charged with using criminal force with the intent to outrage the modesty of the woman, 26, at 12am midnight on Etihad Airways Flight EY418 on Dec 18.
The offence under Section 354 of the Penal Code carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine or whipping, or any two of these upon conviction.
The facts of the case state that during the flight, the boy's right hand had accidentally touched the woman's left thigh, but she did not suspect anything at the time.
However, the act occurred repeatedly, and the woman felt the boy rub her thigh up to her buttocks.
She moved away, but the boy deliberately moved closer, resting his head on her arm and pretending to sleep.
She pushed him away and informed a stewardess, who advised her to lodge a report upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
On Dec 20, the teenager was arrested at the airport's Criminal Investigation Department.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur 'Ain Madihah Zulkifli asked the court to set bail at RM5,000 and for the teenager to surrender his passport.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Ahmad Zahidi Afiq Mohd Zaid requested a minimal bail.
"He came to Malaysia to travel and to visit his uncle who works as a waiter at a restaurant in Bukit Bintang," he said.
After hearing the submissions, Bukhori set bail at RM1,500 with two Malaysian sureties.
"This young offender must hand over his passport to the court. He must also report to the nearest police station once a month and not harass the victim and prosecution witnesses."