MELAKA: A bomoh was arraigned in the Ayer Keroh Magistrate's Court, here, today on charges of sexually assaulting a woman while giving her treatment early last month.

The accused, Mohd Raba'ai Parman, 66, from Taman Bukit Rambai Utama, Bukit Rambai, near here, nodded his understanding but pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read before Magistrate Mohammad Izwan Mohamed Noh.

According to the charge sheet, he was accused of molesting the victim by smearing lime and chicken eggs on the body of a 41-year-old woman at a house in Taman Rambai Utama, near here, on January 11, at about 9pm.

He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine or whipping or any two such punishments if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Fiqri Hakim Zamri proposed bail of RM4,000 with one surety.

The accused's lawyer, Santhil Ramu, appealed for reduced bail on the grounds that the accused was not working and only relied on a pension to support his ill wife.

He said the accused also underwent treatment every month for high blood pressure, diabetes and back pain.

The court then allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM3,000 with one surety pending trial and additional conditions did not disturb the victim. The case is set for mention on March 28.