KUALA LUMPUR: Persana Avril Sollunda (pic), who is accused of stripping in public, has been ordered to appear in court by noon on Friday or an arrest warrant would be issued against her.
Sollunda’s lawyer, Muhammad Nor Izzat Nordin, said that Sollunda was unwell when explaining her absence at the Jalan Duta court for the re-mention on Friday.
Muhammad Nor Izzat Nordin also presented a letter from doctors at the Sungai Buloh hospital, where Sollunda has been receiving continuous psychiatric treatment since May 5.
She was discharged temporarily from the hospital on Thursday but was asked by doctors to return for further treatment on June 1, he added.
Sollunda is currently staying at her brother’s home in Kota Damansara.
“She was released from hospital so she must be here, otherwise an arrest warrant will be issued,” said magistrate Nur A’minahtul Mardiah Md Nor.
“She is not excused from being here as no MC has been presented. Whether she is well or unwell is for me to decide,” Nur A’minahtul said.
She added that Sollunda cannot be absent without leave of the court.
The 32-year-old Sabahan was released from Kajang prison after a RM7,000 bail was posted by family members on May 5 after she maintained her not guilty plea.
On the same day, Sollunda was taken by relatives to the Sungai Buloh hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Sollunda had made an earlier not guilty plea on April 28 to the charge under Section 294 of the Penal Code of committing an obscene act in public.
She had previously been warded in a psychiatric hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
The spa employee and part-time model was charged in a magistrate’s court on April 28 with stripping in public after failing to settle a bill of about RM18 at a chicken rice shop in Petaling Street.
She was charged with committing a lewd act in public on April 23 after a video of a woman removing her shirt and bra went viral on social media.
She had been detained on April 25 following a report on public indecency under section 509 of the Penal Code.
If found guilty, Sollunda would face up to three months in jail or a fine or both.-thestar
