EX-AIDE OF DAP REP CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
He pleads not guilty to using criminal force on waitress
A50-year-old former aide to a DAP assemblyman claimed trial at the magistrate’s court here yesterday to outraging the modesty of a part-time waitress.
L. Prem Anand was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force on a person with intent to outrage the modesty of the waitress at a parking lot of an entertainment outlet in Lebuh Pantai, here, at 11.30pm on July 6.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years jail, a fine, whipping or any two of the three punishments.
The former municipal councillor, who had dodged the cameras of press members during a remand application previously, appeared calm, nodding when the charge was read out to him.
Prem, dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, pleaded not guilty to the charge before magistrate Catherine Nicholas.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Izzah Shaharuddin had asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 and order the accused to appear at a police station weekly.
She also asked the court to warn the accused against having any contact with the victim.
Prem’s lead counsel, E. Gnasegaran, pleaded for a lower bail, stressing that the purpose of the bail was to secure the attendance of the accused, and his client had been cooperative with police investigators.
“It is an excessive amount of bail as normal bail for these kinds of cases are set at RM4,000 to RM5,000. There has been no incident to show that the accused would abscond. Everyone must be treated the same,” he said.
Catherine set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed Aug 23 for mention. Prem posted bail after court proceedings. Prem was arrested on July 14 when he appeared at the Northeast police headquarters to have his statement recorded and was remanded for two days. He was released on police bail on Saturday.