Sheila said she was not well liked due to her intimidating, loud voice and strict character.
A woman police inspector, who went viral on social media recently, was charged in separate Magistrate’s Courts in Selayang here on Monday (June 26) on charges of insulting the modesty of two men, including a police lance corporal, and criminally intimidating an elderly woman.
Sheila Sharon Steven Kumar, 35, pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
In the court before Magistrate Nur Hafizah Rajuni, the woman police officer was charged with insulting the modesty of Lance Corporal Abdul Arif Farhan Abdul Razak at No 8, Jalan SG 1/1, Taman Sri Gombak, at 1.25pm last June 15.
The charge, framed under Section 509 of the Penal Code, provides a term for up to five years or a fine or both, if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Anis Farhah Ahmad Hilmi requested bail of RM5,000 with one surety, but lawyer M Manoharan, representing the accused, whose father was also a former police officer with 39 years of service, requested that his client be given a bond or the lowest bail on the grounds that she had been with the police for seven years and her actions were merely to discipline the complainant.
Meanwhile, in the court before Magistrate Chai Guan Hock, Sheila was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code with criminally intimidating M Silverkoomarie, 69, at about noon at the same place and time.
The police inspector faced imprisonment for up to two years or a fine or both, if convicted.
Sheila was also charged with insulting the modesty of P Taneswaran, 31, at about 1pm at the same place and date.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal appeared for the prosecution in the case.
Sheila was allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety on all three charges and both courts set Aug 7 for mention.
Meanwhile, Sheila claimed she was a victim of jealousy and discrimination.
She said she was not well liked due to her intimidating, loud voice and strict character.
“I think there is some jealousy…discrimination. When you shine, not many people like it.
“As women, when you sound loud, men don’t like it…but this is the way I am. I cannot tone down my voice,” she said.
Sheila said her superiors had also reprimanded her many times over her loud voice but there was nothing she could do about it.
“I’m like, I’m sorry Tuan. This is my voice.
“I cannot edit my voice and make it sound girlish. I have six brothers and I am the eldest of eight children. I have been living with boys in my house and that is how my character was developed as the eldest in the family,” she said.
Asked in jest if she was married, Sheila broke out in a smile and said: “I’m still single…because you know, (if women are) too strict, not many men like it.”
Sheila said she had also been known as a prolific speaker and had given numerous talks organised by the force since she joined in 2017.
“I am a no-nonsense officer. I don’t take bribes and I don’t compromise. Many people have tried to bribe me…sitting in PJ (Petaling Jaya police) is not easy.
“They’ll give you an envelope and say ‘Puan tolong lah, kawtim’ (madam, please settle this). No. I don’t tolerate nonsense and I don’t tolerate bribery, so not everybody likes it.
“They will try to kick you out. This is what happened, so when they saw the opportunity, they took it.”
Touching on an earlier incident when court police tried to handcuff her pending her bail payment, Sheila said she had to reprimand them as they were trying to “teach her procedures”.
“Don’t teach procedures to me…I have been in the force for seven years I know the procedures well.
“They can always use discretion…I am a police officer…why do they need to handcuff me? Is it to strip me of my dignity?”