SHAH ALAM – Thirty-one-year-old Acacia Mardiana Daud lives in constant fear and trauma after being bombarded by “love messages” by Mohd Safiq Rosli, the court heard today.
Acacia said the load of messages also causes her to fear for her safety, to the point of disrupting her life.
“I am traumatised and fear for my safety due to this man’s (Safiq’s) constant harassment and stalking, to the point where I’m scared to leave my house.
“It disturbed my work, daily life and my future. I’ve been living in a state of fear.”
She was called to testify as the first prosecution witness today, following the awaited trial proceeding via Zoom. However, she did not read her witness statement after magistrate Sasha Diana ordered her to peruse her statements in silence.
No objection was recorded from Safiq’s lawyer, Fithril Hakim Ab Jalil or Acacia’s watching brief lawyer, Jason Wee. Fithril also did not cross-examine the witness.
The magistrate allocated three minutes for parties in the courtroom to read through the victim’s witness statement before deputy public prosecutor Zilfinaz Abbas proceeded with the examination-in-chief.
Acacia then told the prosecution that she had lodged four police reports last year over Safiq’s messages sent to her via X (formerly Twitter) on July 15, 17 and 21 of the same year.
Safiq was charged on August 10 under Section 507A of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail, a fine, or both upon conviction.
He claimed trial then and was granted bail on November 9, which has not been posted until today.
The charge sheet states that Safiq, also known as “Sopert” in Acacia’s social media posts, should have known his actions would incite fear in the victim.
The case made headlines when Acacia took to her social media platforms to share her experience with Safiq, which allegedly began in 2016.
She had said some of the online harassment came in the form of lewd photos and expressions that they were “in love”.
She has been lodging a police report over the harassment. However, the authorities took action after the new provision came into effect on March 31 last year.
Acacia, in her exposé, also alleged that Safiq had stalked her all the way to the United Kingdom, which led to her lodging a report with the authorities there.
It led to Safiq’s arrest there and charges for harassment.
However, she said Safiq had not had his day in court as he fled the UK and returned to Malaysia prior to being charged here.
The trial before the magistrate continues. – January 17, 2024