KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — An e-hailing driver pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Magistrates’ Court in Melaka yesterday to a charge of molesting a passenger last month.

The accused, Mohd Ali Husin, 40, entered the plea before Magistrate Nur Afiqah Radhiah Zainurin, according to a report published in Harian Metro.

He is charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code for using criminal force on a 27-year-old woman with the intent to outrage her modesty.

According to the charge, Mohd Ali is alleged to have committed the offence inside a Proton Saga along Jalan Bukit Rambai, near Taman Bukit Rambai here, at about 12.40pm on May 27.

If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or any combination of two of the punishments.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Nur Alia Safri requested a new mention date for the appointment of counsel and document submission.

She also proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety and additional conditions for the accused not to approach or harass the victim.

Defence counsel SS Amritpal Singh informed the court that his client is married and currently unemployed after completing a contract with a statutory body.

The court allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety, along with the prosecution’s requested conditions, and fixed August 10 for mention.

According to police investigations, the victim, a security guard at a university in Kuala Lumpur, had ordered an e-hailing ride after arriving at Melaka Sentral to return home to Taman Rambai Jaya on the day of the incident.

The accused allegedly asked the victim to sit in the front passenger seat, which she did without suspicion, before the alleged offence took place as they were nearing her neighbourhood.