By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 3: A 24-year-old male makeup artist was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with allegedly committing an indecent assault on a 30-year-old groom during preparations for the victim’s wedding last weekend.
The accused pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any combination of these punishments upon conviction.
According to the charge, the incident occurred at around 5.40am on Jan 31 at a service apartment along Jalan Wan Alwi, where the accused allegedly used criminal force with the intent to outrage the victim’s modesty.
The alleged assault took place while the groom was being dressed for his wedding, for which the accused had been engaged as the makeup artist.
Court proceedings revealed that the room had been booked by the complainant’s sister to allow the groom to prepare for the ceremony. The victim later filed a police report, and the accused was arrested several hours after the incident on the same day.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly proposed bail of RM5,000 in cash with two local sureties, while defence counsel Abdul Rahman Mohamad Hazmi requested a reduction, highlighting that his client was a local resident with no prior criminal record and posed no flight risk. He added that the accused was willing to cooperate fully with the court process.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali allowed bail at RM2,500 in cash with two local sureties and set March 6, 2026, for case management.
The court was told that the complainant had hired the accused specifically for wedding preparations scheduled on the day of the alleged incident. — DayakDaily
