KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court here sentenced an e-hailing driver to six months in jail after he pleaded guilty to using criminal force against a 27-year-old woman with intention to outrage her modesty.

Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali who meted out the sentence, also ordered the accused Eric Maang Dring, 50, to serve his sentence effective from the date of arrest on Nov 4.

According to the charge sheet, the accused was charged with using criminal force by pulling the victim’s hand with intention to outrage the victim’s modesty at a house in Kampung Sarig Simpok, Batu 27 on November 2.

Therefore, the accused was prosecuted under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years or whipping or any whichever related, if convicted.

According to the facts of the case, the complainant arrived by flight at Kuching Airport and used the accused’s e-hailing service to get to Kuching Sentral.

However, the accused did not send the complainant to Kuching Sentral but instead, continued to drive to a house in Kampung Sarig Simpok.

Upon arriving, the accused forced the complainant into the house and ordered her to wait in the living room.

The accused who later took off his clothes and only wore a towel around his waist, then forced the complainant into a room by pulling the victim’s hand while holding a knife.

The complainant managed to free herself from the accused and ran to a neighbour’s house to ask for help.

As a result of the incident, the complainant lodged a police report for further action and the accused was subsequently arrested on Nov 4.

It was understood that when the victim fled to a neighbour’s house, where she was informed that the accused had also tried to rape his neighbour.

Prior to the incident, the accused had just been released from police lock-up for another offence.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Mohd Adzmei Ahmad had requested for a severe punishment against the accused as a lesson.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Padawan Criminal Investigation Division (CID) chief ASP Sylvarius Gopog while the accused was unrepresented by a counsel.