A woman has pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to three charges, including spitting, uttering insulting words, and offending the Islamic religion against a police officer last month.
The accused, Teoh Siew Li, 35, who is a company director and sales manager, made the plea after all charges were read before Magistrate Nur Syifa Mohd Hamzah.
For the first charge, Teoh Siew Li allegedly used criminal force by spitting at a police officer to obstruct him from performing his duties on 31 December. The offence falls under Section 353 of the Penal Code, which carries up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The second charge accuses her of uttering insulting words and making an obscene gesture toward the same officer at the same time and place, under Section 509, which provides for up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
For the third charge, she allegedly insulted Islam, hurting the feelings of its followers, an offence under Section 298, punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine, or both.
During the proceedings, Kedah State Prosecution Director Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim proposed a bail of RM5,000 for each charge.
He informed the court that the accused also faces another charge under Section 353 of the Penal Code in the Taiping Magistrate’s Court, in addition to more than 500 social media posts allegedly causing racial and religious unease related to the third charge.
Appealed for a reduced bail amount
However, in her appeal, the accused requested the court to reduce the bail amount, citing that she supports her mother, sibling, and sibling-in-law.
She also stated that she earns up to RM20,000 a month and is a law graduate from a private college.
The court then allowed bail of RM12,000 with one surety and set 20 January as the mention date for the appointment of a lawyer.
