Single mother pleads not guilty to obscene material and altered nude image charges in Melaka

MELAKA, July 2 — A single mother pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Magistrates’ Court today to possessing obscene material and distributing altered nude images through social media last month.

T. V. Pavithra, 33, entered her plea after the two charges were read out by the court interpreter before Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Sulaiman.

On the first count, she was accused of possessing obscene material on her mobile phone at a condominium in Kota Laksamana Jaya at about 6.15pm on June 28.

The charge was framed under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine, or both upon conviction.

On the second count, she was charged with using social media with intent to distribute an altered nude image of a woman, which was likely to cause harassment, distress, fear, or alarm to the victim.

The accused is alleged to have committed the offence at a house in Taman Melaka Raya at about 11pm on June 24.

The charge, under Section 507B of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of three years, a fine, or both if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Syaza Nur Sharif proposed bail of RM10,000 for each charge, with additional conditions that the accused not disturb the victim, the victim’s family, and prosecution witnesses until the case is concluded.

Lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) Muhammad Izzuddin Ab Malek, representing Pavithra, applied for bail to be reduced, saying the accused, who earns income solely from an online business, supports her physically disabled mother and mentally disabled younger sibling.

The court allowed bail of RM5,000 for both charges, together with the additional conditions proposed by the deputy public prosecutor, and fixed Aug 5 for mention. — Bernama