High Court does away with duplicate charge against Insp Sheila for insulting cop

The High Court has acquitted policewoman Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, known as “Inspector Sheila,” who was mistakenly charged twice with insulting the modesty of another officer. In her appeal against a Magistrate Court decision, the policewoman was granted a full acquittal, overturning the ruling that initially granted her a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA). The Shah Alam High Court judge, Datuk Norsharidah Awang, made the decision based on the grounds that the charge was not read to Sheila Sharon, and her plea was not recorded before the magistrate as required by law.

Sheila Sharon’s counsel, M. Manoharan, confirmed that the Magistrate’s Court had granted his client a DNAA on June 26 instead of acquitting her of the duplicate charge. The prosecution had applied to withdraw the duplicate charge due to a “glitch in registration” related to the charge under Section 509 of the Penal Code, alleging that she had outraged the modesty of L/Kpl Abdul Arif Farhan Abdul Razak. Consequently, the Deputy Public Prosecutor requested a DNAA ruling. Following the court ruling, the defence filed an appeal at the High Court.

In Tuesday’s decision, Manoharan argued that the DNAA was incorrect as the charge would perpetually hang over his client. When the judge asked the Deputy Public Prosecutor if Sheila Sharon would be charged again for the same offense, she confirmed that she would not. Based on that confirmation, Manoharan stated that his client should have been granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal (DAA) instead.

Despite her acquittal on the mistaken charges, Sheila Sharon is still facing three criminal charges for shouting at her colleagues and arguing with a female civilian. The trial for these charges has been scheduled for three days beginning on February 5 next year. Sheila Sharon, a 35-year-old investigating officer at Bukit Aman’s Criminal Commercial Investigation Department, found herself in trouble in early June after a viral video captured her engaging in arguments with other police personnel and civilians. As a result, she was detained by Gombak police on June 18, released on police bail, and suspended from her duties.