KUALA LUMPUR: A Palestinian student was charged at the magistrate's court here today with two counts of molesting a financial executive two weeks ago.
However, magistrate Zuraini Abdul Razak fixed Aug 28 for the charges to be read in Arabic by an Arabic interpreter as the accused claimed that he does not understand English.
Abbal Qader M.D Mustaffa, 31, was accused of molesting a 23-year-old woman by hugging her from behind at a staircase of Kolej Kediaman Kedua Belas, Universiti Malaya here at about 7.05am on July 17.
The PhD student who is studying mathematics also faced a second charge of molesting the same person by touching her back at 7.55am on the same day.
Earlier when the charges were read to him in English, he claimed trial for the first charge and pleaded guilty for the second charge.
However, when the magistrate asked him whether he understood the charges he said he did not.
"I am only fluent in Arabic," Abbal said.
Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Nom Phot Prackdit prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.