MELAKA: An investment agent in a polygamous marriage has claimed trial to charges of distributing, threatening and possessing obscene images of her husband's second wife.

Herni Sofini Omar, 53, entered a plea of not guilty after the three charges were read to her before Magistrate Uthman Abd Ghani in Ayer Keroh on Wednesday (July 2).

She is charged with intending to insult the modesty of a 45-year-old woman by distributing obscene images via the post.

The charge was framed under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The accused was also charged under Section 507 of the Penal Code for issuing a criminal threat to the same woman via a letter that concealed the identity of the sender.

The offence carries a prison term of up to two years, in addition to any other punishment provided under Section 506 of the Penal Code, if convicted.

All the offences were alleged to have been committed at about 2pm at a house on Jalan Meranti 3 in Taman Sayang Selasih here on March 27.

The accused also faces a prison term of up to three years, a fine, or both, if convicted under Section 292 of the Penal Code for possessing obscene images of the same woman on her mobile phone.

The offence was discovered at about 3am on June 2 at the criminal investigation officer’s office in Melaka Tengah district police headquarters here.

Deputy public prosecutor Hanis Aliah Ahmad Kamarulnajuib proposed bail of RM8,000 for each charge.

Baharudin Baharim, representing the accused, appealed for bail of RM4,000 for all charges because his client had no fixed income, recently underwent surgery for cancer, and was abandoned by her husband over the case.

The court set bail at RM5,000 for all charges and fixed Aug 6 for next mention of the case.