KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — An architect pleaded not guilty in the Ampang Magistrate’s Court today to a charge of molesting the son of a senior police officer at a gymnasium in Taman Melawati last Sunday.

Datuk Saiful Anuar Abdul Aziz, 61, is accused of using criminal force against the 18-year-old victim with intent to outrage his modesty in a sauna room at a gymnasium in a shopping mall in Taman Melawati at 7.10 pm on Oct 18.

The charge, framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor M. Ramanathan Alias Ashwin proposed bail of RM15,000 with one surety and additional conditions that the accused not interfere with the victim or prosecution witnesses and surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of the case.

Counsel K. Theivaendran, representing the accused, sought a lower bail amount, saying his client was the family breadwinner and also supported his frail 89-year-old mother.

“I object to the prosecution’s application for my client to surrender his passport as he has projects abroad, including in Riyadh (in Saudi Arabia) and is not a flight risk,” he said.

Magistrate Siti Nur Ain Ariffin granted the accused bail of RM9,000 with one surety, imposed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution and fixed Nov 26 for mention.

Media reports last Wednesday said an elderly man had been arrested for allegedly molesting the son of a senior police officer at a gymnasium in Melawati.

The incident is believed to have occurred while the victim was at the gymnasium with a friend. — Bernama