85-year-old man fined RM4,000 for outraging girl’s modesty in lift

An 85-year-old man named Yong Lip Fook was sentenced to a RM4,000 fine by the George Town magistrates' court in Penang for outraging the modesty of a 16-year-old girl in a lift. The incident occurred on September 17 at 4pm in Air Itam. Yong pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him in Mandarin, as reported by Harian Metro. The magistrate, Nadratun Naim Saidi, ordered Yong to pay the fine or serve an additional eight months in jail if he failed to do so.

Yong's son paid the fine after the sentence was imposed. Yong was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which allows for up to 10 years in prison, a fine, whipping, or a combination of these punishments upon conviction. The deputy public prosecutor, Ahmad Danial Amir Saad, represented the prosecution, while Sharmila Shanthini Mogan represented Yong in court.

Danial sought an appropriate sentence, while Sharmila requested leniency, citing Yong's advanced age and medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Sharmila also mentioned that Yong had cooperated with the authorities and promised not to commit the offense again.