Ex-political aide pleads not guilty to molest (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: A former aide to a Penang DAP lawmaker has today pleaded not guilty to a charge of outraging the modesty of a 21-year-old college student and part-time waitress.
L. Prem Anand was charged with the offence on July 6, 2017, at a car park of an entertainment outlet in Lebuh Pantai here about 11.30pm
Dressed in a striped short-sleeve button down shirt and grey slacks, Prem appeared calm when the charge was read to him.
He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code which reads assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.
Those convicted of the offence can be punished with a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine, or with whipping or with any two punishments.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nurul Izzah Shaharuddin asked the court to impose RM10,000 bail.
She also requested the court to require the accused to report to the police station weekly as well as barring him from contacting the victim.
Defence counsel E. Gnasegaran, however, said the proposed bail was too high, noting bail was supposed to ensure attendance and not as a punitive measure.
He also said his client was out on police bail since last Saturday, fully cooperated with the police and had not contacted the victim.
"I propose bail of RM5,000 and no conditions," he said.
Magistrate Catherine Nicholas then set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed Aug 23 for mention.
Gnasegaran was assisted by S. Rethinakumar and Audrey Wee while Datuk Baljit Singh held a watching brief for the youth.
Earlier in a different court, Magistrate L. Umma Devi gave L. Prem a discharge not amounting to an acquittal as the case was filed under a wrong code.
She said the case should be registered again under a different code.