Beiruting News

The two models involved in the semi-nude photo shoot here have been fined RM400 (S$158) each in default of a months' jail.

Magistrate Haslinda A. Raof made the judgment on Wednesday after both freelance models Low Kah Wai, 27, and How Jo Yee, 21, pleaded guilty to causing nuisance in public at a traffic light in front of a bank along Jalan Sultan Yussuf here on Aug 25.

Both were charged under Under Section 268 of the Penal Code and sentenced under Section 290 of the same code, which was also read together with Section 34 of the same code.

Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong said Low was only wearing black pants and shoes without wearing any shirt, while How was wearing white undergarments.

Jo Yee walking out of court after paying the RM400 fine.

"Their actions caught the attention of the public and some photographs of them were captured and circulated through social media," he said, while pushing for the maximum penalty of RM400 to be meted out.

"The country is made up of a multi-cultural society and their actions are unacceptable," he added.

On behalf of the models' mitigation, counsel Andrew Soong said both would apologised to the people who were offended by their actions.

"The have also cooperated with the police, pleaded guilty and save the court's time.

"Furthermore, the photographs on social media were not posted by them and they did not have the intention to do so," he said.

Both paid the fine.

When met after the proceedings, Soong said his clients and their respective families were stressed out since the photographs went viral online.

He said they were mulling to take actions against those who published the photographs online.