MELAKA: A Melaka Immigration officer, Muhammad Rasyid Mohamad, has been acquitted by the Session Courts from two charges of armed robbery and outraging the modesty of a woman that were filed against him nine years ago. He expressed his joy and relief at being cleared of these charges just in time for Hari Raya, considering it a precious gift and a blessing during the holy month of Ramadan.
The court determined that there was not enough evidence to establish a prima facie case against him. In an interview, the 29-year-old father, who hails from Masjid Tanah, shared how the uncertainty of the court case had caused him many sleepless nights and hardships. He had been suspended from his job at the Melaka Immigration Department shortly after starting work and had spent all his savings trying to clear his name and protect his family’s reputation.
Muhammad Rasyid also mentioned how his friends had distanced themselves from him during this challenging period. He expressed his gratitude to his lawyers, Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris, for their support and for helping him secure his freedom. He described the court’s decision as the “sweetest” Hari Raya gift and said he was looking forward to rejoining work after celebrating the upcoming Hari Raya with his loved ones.
He emphasized his desire to make this year’s Hari Raya celebrations special for his wife and daughter, as the past few years had been filled with uncertainty and stress due to the ongoing court case. Muhammad Rasyid’s trial began in July 2022 and involved the testimonies of 12 witnesses. Initially charged in July 2015 under the Penal Code sections 392/397, which pertain to armed robbery with a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail, he also faced a separate charge under Section 354 for criminal force intending to outrage a woman’s modesty, carrying a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
