PETALING JAYA: Two foreign tourists were slapped with a RM5,000 fine each after pleading guilty to committing obscene acts during a run in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
Taiwanese Arthur Wang, 66, and Indian national Satanarayana Prasad Papoli, 70, will be jailed for a month if they fail to pay the fine imposed by the Kota Tinggi magistrates’ court today, Berita Harian reported.
Wang was charged with committing obscene acts by dressing provocatively at Desaru, Pengerang, between 4pm and 6pm last Friday.
Satanarayana was charged with committing the same act at the Lotus Desaru Hotel in Pengerang at the same date and time.
Their charges were framed under Section 294(a) of the Penal Code, which provides for up to three months’ jail, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Ghafar Ab Latif asked magistrate Nurkhalida Farhana Abu Bakar to impose a heavy sentence on the duo as a lesson to tourists to abide by Malaysia’s culture and dress decently.
Wang and Satanarayana, who were not represented, apologised for their actions and for offending Malaysians, and asked the court for a lighter sentence.
The duo and another person were arrested by police after foreigners who took part in the run were allegedly half-naked and promoted an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) agenda.
