A Johor Bahru e-hailing driver and teacher pleaded not guilty to molesting a Vietnamese passenger, with bail set at RM2,000 ahead of a March mention.

JOHOR BAHRU: An e-hailing driver and full-time government school teacher pleaded not guilty to outraging the modesty of a foreign female passenger.

Alvin Choo Chee Hong, 26, entered his plea at the Magistrate’s Court here after the charge was read before Magistrate A Shaarmini.

The charge alleges he used criminal force on the woman with intent to violate her modesty. The offence is alleged to have occurred on February 1 between 5.30 pm and 6 pm during a journey from Taman Abad to R&F Princess Cove in Johor Bahru.

He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, caning, or a combination of these punishments.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Syafiqah Sha’ari proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety. Defence lawyer Mark Jeyakumar sought a reduction, citing the accused’s family circumstances.

The court allowed bail at RM2,000 with one surety, which was posted. Choo is the family’s eldest, with two siblings in higher education, a housewife mother, and a father earning about RM4,000 monthly as an assistant engineer.

The case is set for mention and document submission on March 13. The driver was arrested on February 4 following a police report by the Vietnamese woman.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook ordered the Road Transport Department to revoke the driver’s Public Service Vehicle licence on February 3. This action bars him from operating on any e-hailing platform.

 The Sun Malaysia