Stalking victim living in fear after pounded with 'love messages', court hears

A woman has testified in the Shah Alam Magistrates’ Court today that she has been living in fear since being bombarded with unwanted “love messages” from a man, in the first stalking case to be brought to trial in the country.

Acacia Mardiana Daud revealed that Mohd Safiq Rosli had repeatedly sent her messages on social media to profess his love for her from 2016 until last year.

The 31-year-old told the court that she suffered immense trauma following Safiq’s constant harassment and stalking.

“I have been so traumatised that I don’t dare to leave my house.

“It has affected my work and my daily activities, as well as my future. I am living in fear,” she said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Zilfinaz Abbas.

Three of the countless messages sent by the accused - dated July 15, 17, and 21 last year - were read in court.

Acacia appeared as the first prosecution witness today and took the stand via Zoom.

However, the court ordered her not to read her witness statement aloud before the prosecution proceeded with the examination in chief.

Safiq’s lawyer Fithril Hakim Ab Jalil did not cross-examine Acacia.

Meanwhile, lawyer Jason Wee held a watching brief for the victim.

Acacia had previously lodged four separate police reports - one at the Damansara police station, two at the Section 6 Shah Alam police station and another one at the Dang Wangi police station - from 2016 up until last year.

The case before the court saw several turns of events on Dec 20 last year, after Safiq first pleaded guilty on Dec 15.

On Dec 20, magistrate Sasha Diana Sabtu said the court could not accept the accused’s guilty plea after taking into consideration a psychiatric report from Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak that verified Safiq was mentally unstable or “insane” during the time he committed the offence.

Citing the psychiatric report, she said Safiq’s guilty plea was conditional.

She then ordered Safiq to enter trial and fixed today for the one-day trial, when she will also deliver her sentencing.

Case background

On Aug 10, Safiq, who is a freelance designer, was charged with stalking photographer Acacia by repeatedly harassing the latter on X.

On the same day, Bernama reported that the court allowed the prosecution’s request to refer the 37-year-old man to the Forensic Psychiatric Unit of Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta for observation.

Safiq was the first person to be charged with the offence under Section 507A(1) of the Penal Code. He claimed trial then.

Free Malaysia Today reported that Safiq had been in custody since August.

However, the accused changed his plea to guilty on Dec 15 and admitted to stalking Acacia by repeatedly harassing the latter through three communications on his X account in July.

He was alleged to have committed the offences between 1.40am on July 15 and 5.58pm on July 21 despite knowing the acts were likely to cause distress, fear, or alarm to Acacia.

The case went viral when Acacia took to X last July to share her harrowing experience and details of the alleged harassment from Safiq, which she said began in 2016.

She claimed Safiq also sent lewd photographs of himself.

The accused allegedly trailed Acacia to various locations such as a fast food restaurant and even to her house.

He also allegedly stalked the victim by following her to the United Kingdom.

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