A former airline steward was charged in the Klang Sessions Court today with producing or making a pornographic video compact disc (VCD) which allegedly starred several 'air stewardesses' in lewd acts.

Mohd Rizal Mat Yusof, 32, pleaded not guilty to making the VCD featuring sexual acts involving several different women, with the intention to circulate them to the public.

He was said to have committed the offence at his home in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang between early 1999 and May 2003.

The father of two also claimed trial to producing the said VCD at the same time and place.

Released on bail

He was charged under section 292 (a) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and/or fine.

Sessions judge Noradidah Ahmad allowed Mohd Rizal to be released on a RM8,500 bail with additional condition that he surrenders his travel document to the court.

The court set Aug 8 for mention to allow time for Mohd Rizal, who was unrepresented today, to appoint a counsel.

Clad in a dark grey shirt and black slacks, the man shielded his face with his hands to escape a large group of press photographers who were trailing him as he was escorted into the court lock-up.

Earlier when the prosecution proposed a RM10,000 bail, Mohd Rizal told the court that he is only working as telecommunications operator consultant and is the family's sole breadwinner.

Wife jobless

"My wife had lost her job and now she and the children are dependent on me," he said from the dock.

Selangor prosecution head Salehudin Saidin said although the prosecution of Mohd Rizal was not a first of its kind, it was nevertheless a rare case.

The authorities started its crackdown on pornographic VCDs in April following a report on the distribution of a VCD featuring people in cabin crew uniforms.

The report, which also featured still photos from the video with faces of the characters blurred by the newspapers to hide their identities, had initiated police investigations.