Car washer jailed for molesting 12-year-old

A car washer was sentenced to two years' jail and two strokes of the cane by the Ampang Magistrate's Court here today for using criminal force on a young girl with intent to outrage her modesty.

Magistrate Mohamad Firdaus Sadina Ali handed down the sentence on S. Panneerselvam, 36, after finding him guilty of the charge at the end of the defence case.

Panneerselvam was charged with committing the offence on the girl, aged 12 years and five months, by the roadside near a 99 Speedmart at Taman Ukay Perdana here at 9.20pm on Aug 16 last year.

The charge, under Section 354 of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to 10 years, or with fine, or with whipping, or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.

However, the court allowed a stay of the sentence following an application by lawyer Narainasami SM Alagu, representing Pannerselvam, pending an appeal at the High Court.

In allowing the request, Mohamad Firdaus increased the bail amount from RM5,000, to RM7,000 with two Malaysian sureties.

Panneerselvam was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and to report himself at the nearest police station twice in a month pending the disposal of the appeal case.

Earlier, during mitigation, Narainasami said his client had a wife in India.

Deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim prosecuted. -- Bernama