18-07-2025
Charges against Pakistani man for sodomy, molest postponed to July 23
SHAH ALAM: The court proceedings for a Pakistani man facing multiple charges, including sodomy and robbery, were postponed to next Wednesday after he requested an Urdu interpreter.
The 24-year-old man, who was brought before two Sessions Courts and a magistrate's court, appeared confused and repeatedly shook his head when asked if he understood Bahasa Melayu or English.
As a result, the charges were not read to him before Judges Norazlin Othman and Rasyihah Ghazali, where he faces several counts of sexual assault, nor before Magistrate Ameera Mastura Khamis for an immigration offence.
The prosecution then requested the court to set a later date to secure an Urdu interpreter.
Speaking in broken English before Norazlin and Rasyihah, the foreigner indicated that he did not understand Bahasa Melayu as he had only been in Malaysia for five to six months.
The foreigner, who was unrepresented, kept repeating: "Urdu, Urdu."
Norazlin addressed the suspect directly, explaining in English that he would remain in remand until he was brought back to court to have the charges read in a language he understood.
A court policeman also assisted in explaining the matter to him.
Norazlin and Rasyihah set July 23 for mention, while Ameera fixed August 1.
Deputy public prosecutors Amir Saifullah Mohammad Sallehuddin, Roshaira Rosly and Nurul Akhilah Rosmi prosecuted.
On July 9, Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim had said a Pakistani man wanted for allegedly sodomising and molesting several boys was arrested at Durian Burung in Baling, Kedah just before he attempted to flee the country.
Iqbal had said the suspect had gone into hiding in a rubber estate where his friend, a 43-year-old Pakistani man, worked as a rubber tapper.
Police launched a hunt for the suspect after receiving reports of the alleged sexual assaults, involving boys aged between nine and 19, which took place at Sections 27 and 28 here.
Police opened four investigation papers (IP) where two were under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for physical sexual assault on a child, which carries a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping upon conviction.
The other two IPs were under Section 377C of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent which provides a jail term not less than five years and not exceeding 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
