KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — There is a mystery brewing over investigations into an allegation that a former minister molested a staff member of a cigar bar. Is he going to be charged or is he in the clear?
On Wednesday, the New Straits Times reported that police are recommending that the man, a minister until Parliament was dissolved before the election, be charged with assault or the use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty. The newspaper noted that if charged and convicted, the politician faces a maximum 10 years in jail, fine and whipping.
It added that Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman had submitted investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further instruction. This report in the NST caused palpitations among the police brass, the AG’s chambers and the former minister.
A top police officer has since contacted the senior management of the NST, saying that the report was wrong and wanting to record a statement from the reporter. For his part, the journalist appears to be sticking by his report, saying that the information was correct. It is unclear if the NST will retract its report today. In any case, this episode will just add another layer of questions over a case which has attracted much publicity since it became public.
The alleged victim lodged a report on April 18 alleging that the politician, who is a serving Member of Parliament, hugged her while she was at work in a cigar shop at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Five days later, there was a surprising turn of events when she signed a statutory declaration claiming that the alleged incident was a misunderstanding.
The Star reported her as saying that she had known the former minister over the past five years, and that he had acted in jest without any bad intention. However, she said she felt offended at that time due to her “complicated mood which led to her lodging a police report the next day".
“I realise now that I may have misunderstood the entire episode that took place.
“When he jokes, he sometimes likes to touch my shoulder or arms but it is something that I accepted as normal among friends especially those we have known for a long time,” she said in her statement.
The woman also said she regretted lodging the police report as there was no intention on the part of the former minister to outrage her modesty or act inappropriately.
She said she was used to the VIP’s jokes and “rough ways” and had never objected to his actions nor felt offended by them previously.
The woman's lawyer, Datuk Shafee Abdullah, said the statutory declaration has been handed over to the Attorney-General's Chambers and the police.
Police continued their probe despite the woman retracting her report, and recorded statements from her, the politician and her boyfriend.
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