Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth and activist Arun Dorasamy have pleaded not guilty to charges of making statements likely to cause public alarm.
KUALA LUMPUR: Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth and activist Arun Dorasamy pleaded not guilty in separate courts to charges of making statements likely to cause public alarm.
Zamri Vinoth, 42, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court over a statement posted on his Facebook account on February 3, which was allegedly seen by a man at a restaurant on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Arun Dorasamy, 56, faced charges at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court for allegedly posting a statement on Instagram on March 12 that could incite public disorder.
The charge against Arun reportedly related to a post calling for a street protest by a Hindu organisation if no action was taken against Zamri Vinoth over a controversial video involving radio presenters.
In a separate case at the Seremban Magistrate’s Court, e-hailing driver P. Mahendra Bhoopaty, 53, pleaded guilty and was fined RM4,000 for uploading a Facebook video containing statements likely to cause public alarm.
Mahendra’s video, posted on February 27, questioned religious sensitivities by comparing a temple under a bridge to a mosque under a flyover.
All three individuals were charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Meanwhile, proceedings against activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak at the Langkawi Magistrate’s Court have been postponed to May 17 after he failed to appear.
The prosecution stated that more time was needed to secure the presence of the accused, who is believed to be out of the country, with preliminary checks indicating he had travelled to Riyadh via Bangkok.
Police investigations into Tamim Dahri are linked to the alleged act of damaging a sacred Hindu symbol at the former site of the Sri Maha Muniswarar Temple, with an expected charge under Section 295 of the Penal Code for insulting religion.
