UBER driver Muhammad Sukri Ramli claimed trial at the magistrate’s court in George Town today to a charge of molesting a Vietnamese passenger earlier this month.

The father of one from Sungai Nibong, who was unrepresented, asked for bail to be reduced after Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Izzah Shaharuddin urged the court to set bail at RM10,000.

Nurul Izzah also asked for assurance that the accused would not go near the victim. 

Magistrate Catherine Nicholas fixed bail at RM6,000 with one surety and set July 18 for mention. 

She also told Sukri to appoint a lawyer. 

“Each Monday, you are also to report to Sungai Nibong police station until the case is settled,” she said. 

The 30-year-old, who works as a supervisor at a hotel in Tanjung Bungah, allegedly committed the offence last Tuesday after he picked up the 43-year-old woman at about 4pm. 

They were heading towards Jalan Argyle from Lintang Paya Terubong when he allegedly unzipped his pants and placed the victim’s hands on his private parts. 

Sukri faces a jail term of up to 10 years, with fine or whipping, or any two of the three penalties, if convicted.

It was reported that after the woman told her husband of the incident, he told her to call up the driver the next day. 

The husband and several others then beat up the driver and thrashed his car when he showed up. The driver had to be hospitalised for his injuries. 

Last Thursday, police arrested and remanded the Vietnamese woman, her Malaysian husband and several others for rioting with weapons. – June 13, 2017.