Magistrate Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli sentenced Shahidan Mohammad, 46, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

The father of six was charged with committing the offence in the lift of an apartment in Bandar Damai Perdana here at 9pm on Feb 20, under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of five years or a fine, or both.

Based on the facts of the case, when the 38-year-old victim was in the elevator with the accused, who is an occupant of the apartment, she felt the man pinch her thigh.

Suspicious of the man’s actions, the victim tailed the man to his house and asked the management to view a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage which found that he had recorded a video by placing his mobile phone under her skirt.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Hairuliqram Hairuddin urged the court to hand down an appropriate sentence to teach the accused a lesson.

“His actions clearly show he has no respect for women and had insulted the victim’s modesty,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer S Priyalatha, who represented the accused, applied for her client to be given a lighter sentence on the grounds that he had to support his wife and six children, aged between five and 17.

“My client apologises to all parties, especially the victim, and requests the court’s discretion to grant a minimum fine,” the lawyer said.