A former sales manager of a private company was charged at the Sessions Court today with insulting the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, on Facebook last month.
Eric Liew Chee Ling, 46, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge MM Edwin Paramjothy.
The man was accused of using Facebook under the name “Eric Liew” to send insulting comments directed at the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the intention to hurt others at between 7.01pm and 9.23pm on Jan 6.
Liew’s comments were read at 8pm on Jan 6 at the office of Classified Criminal Investigation Unit (D5), Criminal Investigation Department, second floor, Menara 2, Bukit Aman police headquarters.
The accused was charged under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and could be sentenced under Section 233(3) of the same act which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail up to one year or both if found guilty.
The deputy public prosecutor of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Muhamad Asyraf Md Kamal proposed bail at RM20,000 with one surety considering the seriousness of Liew’s case as his comments touched on the personal life of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Counsel New Sin Yew who is representing Liew asked the court to set bail at a more reasonable sum.
The court granted bail at RM8,000 with one surety and set March 26 for case mention.
It was previously reported that a Facebook user uploaded insulting comments against Sultan Muhammad V which sparked anger among netizens before several parties came forward to lodge police reports and demanded action by the authorities.
Earlier report: Jan 8, Staff Who Insulted Agong No Longer with Cisco, but Umno Protest Still on