A businessman pleaded not guilty at the Sepang Sessions Court to a charge of creating and posting offensive content on Facebook under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
SEPANG: A businessman pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of creating and posting offensive content on social media last January.
Muhammad Zubair Ismail, 44, entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Zubair is accused of creating and initiating the transmission of communications that were grossly offensive with intent to annoy others on Facebook through the account “Tam Jebat” on Jan 12.
The post was subsequently viewed at Menara Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) 1, Cyberjaya, at 3 pm on Jan 13.
The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 or two years’ imprisonment or both, and a further fine of RM5,000 for every day the offence persists after conviction.
MCMC prosecuting officer Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
However, the accused’s lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali appealed for lower bail on the grounds that his client was self-employed, his wife was unemployed, and he supported four children still in school.
The court granted bail of RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Nov 17 for mention.