KUALA LUMPUR – A police officer with the rank of lance corporal has been accused of making obscene gestures at a female photographer during a rally in December last year has been charged in court.
Muhammad Faris Ariffin Tait, 33, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate M.S. Arunjothy today to a charge of outraging the modesty of a 26-year-old woman in front of a building off Jalan Tun Razak at 3.58pm on December 13, 2024.
Deputy public prosecutor Vivi’ Asnita Zaina’ Larifin proposed bail at RM7,000 with one surety. However, Muhammad Faris’s lawyer, Tripatjit Singh, appealed for a lower amount.
He argued that his client was not a flight risk due to his employment as a police officer, Bernama reported.
“My client is financially responsible for his family, including his parents. His wife is unemployed, and they have a child. We request the court to impose the minimum bail amount,” said the lawyer.
The charge falls under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The magistrate granted bail at RM3,500 with one surety and set May 14 for case mention.
The case gained attention after the alleged victim, identified as Intan, posted on social media about her experience during a human rights demonstration on December 13.
The demonstration, organised by Gegar, was held in support of Palestine, Yemen, and Lebanon, starting at the German Embassy and proceeding towards the US Embassy.
Scoop reported that the protest saw a significant police presence, with some participants claiming they were restricted from approaching the embassy compounds.
She claimed that while she was documenting the protest, a uniformed policeman repeatedly made obscene gestures at her.
“While photographing the protest, a policeman, in uniform and on duty, directed lewd gestures towards me, which I managed to capture on camera. He did it several times, seemingly ensuring that I noticed,” she wrote in her post.
She added that another officer who witnessed the act merely laughed it off. Intan’s post, which included photographs of the officer in question, quickly went viral and sparked widespread condemnation.
Following the social media uproar, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa confirmed that an internal investigation had been launched into the matter.
“The investigation has begun even though police have not received any report in relation to the incident,” he told Bernama in December.
In January, NST reported that Muhammad Faris remained on active duty at the Wangsa Maju police station while authorities awaited directives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). – March 11, 2025