A security guard was sentenced to eight months in jail and fined RM50,000 for posting an offensive comment against Malaysia’s king on Facebook.
KUCHING: The Sessions Court today sentenced a security guard to eight months’ jail and fined him RM50,000 in default two months’ jail for posting an offensive comment against His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
Judge Iris Awen Jon handed down the penalty after Raden Mohamad Norhakim Raden Ibrahim, 46, pleaded guilty to committing the offence.
The man was charged with making offensive communications with intent to annoy others on Facebook on Feb 12 last year.
The comment was later viewed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at Tower 1, Cyberjaya at 8.44 pm on the same day.
The charge was brought under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 or a maximum imprisonment term of two years, or both.
Judge Iris said the offence could give rise to various negative perceptions among the public, particularly as the comment was posted in the comment section of a prominent newspaper’s Facebook page.
“The public interest is the primary consideration of the court in this case. You should apologise to all Malaysians and to His Majesty the King. There is no point in apologising to me; the damage has already been done,” she said.
MCMC prosecuting officer Nazrul Nizam Mohd Zameri prosecuted while Raden Mohamad Norhakim was unrepresented.
