Post by : Shakul

A man and a woman have been sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to engaging in an indecent act at the Batu Gantung Chinese Cemetery in Penang, an incident that sparked widespread public outrage.

The accused, identified as M. Jegathesan, 58, and Halila Abu Bakar, 37, admitted to the offence when charges were read out at the Magistrates Court on March 26. Both were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment under Section 377D of Malaysia’s Penal Code for gross indecency in a public place.

The court heard that the act took place at the cemetery, a location considered highly inappropriate, further aggravating the seriousness of the offence. The case drew significant attention after a short video of the incident circulated widely on social media.

During mitigation, the defence highlighted the personal circumstances of the accused. Halila was said to be unemployed and dependent on her family, while Jegathesan worked as a security guard earning a modest income and was the sole provider for his wife, who is recovering from a stroke, and their two children.

However, the prosecution argued for a stricter sentence, stressing the need for deterrence and noting the moral and social implications of the act, especially given the public setting and the fact that it occurred at a cemetery.

The court ultimately ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary to serve as a lesson to the accused and as a warning to others, reinforcing the importance of maintaining public decency and respect for sensitive places.

#Asia News #Malaysia #Malaysia News #Crime