Chinese national's 10-hour transit turns to 10-day remand for harassment
A Chinese national has learned a harsh lesson, after his 10-hour transit turned into a 10-day remand and a fine for sexually harassing a Malaysian lawyer in a Cambodian airport and KLIA2.
Sepang Magistrate A Akhiruddin fined Ming Zhimin RM2,100 under section 509 of the Penal Code, pertaining to words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a person...
A Chinese national has learned a harsh lesson, after his 10-hour transit turned into a 10-day remand and a fine for sexually harassing a Malaysian lawyer in a Cambodian airport and KLIA2.
Sepang Magistrate A Akhiruddin fined Ming Zhimin RM2,100 under section 509 of the Penal Code, pertaining to words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a person.
On Jan 22, Ming and his friend Chen Zueyuan approached lawyer Samantha Chong, 33, at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
Chong initially tried to brush off their lewd remarks in Mandarin, such as “stinky whore,” and asked them to cease their verbal abuse.
Undeterred, the duo even touched her hair and spoke about wanting sexual intercourse with Malaysian women.
She pleaded with AirAsia staff not to allow the men to get close to her, but they continued to follow her around the Phnom Penh airport.
Upon landing at KLIA2, Ming and Chen repeated their remarks and continued to follow Chong.
They were arrested after Chong reported their behaviour to Immigration Department officers.
Ming and Chen were only supposed to be in Malaysia for a 10-hour transit, but found themselves in detention instead. Unlike Ming, however, Chen was not charged after his eight-day remand.
Chong, who only learned of the court decision today, said she hoped the two men "learned their lesson."
“Sexual harassment doesn’t just come in the form of the physical, but can be verbal as well.
“Women should be brave to report harassment. Most women are afraid to report it because they fear being labelled a troublemaker,” the lawyer said.
Chong expressed her gratitude to Immigration Department officials at KLIA2, who were quick to provide her with assistance.
She added that although the experience proved traumatic, taking action has made her stronger.
“It was really quite terrifying, even for me who has had years of experience handling criminal prosecution and defence trials.”
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