A 48-year-old trader was today charged at the Sessions Court with sharing menacing content against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on social media.
Nor Zigan Mohd Tori from Tanjung Karang claimed trial to committing the offence before judge Edwin Paramjothy Michael Muniandy.
Zigan was accused of intentionally making a threatening post against Guan Eng via his Facebook ‘Zihan Tori’ at 8.06am on Feb 18.
In his post, he had linked Lim with the sale of TH assets.
The statement was read at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division, Commercial Crime Investigation Department at Menara KPJ, Bukit Aman police headquarters at 2.30pm the same day.
Zigan faces a maximum RM50,000 fine or a jail term of not exceeding a year or both, if convicted under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Syahieza Md Hadzaid urged the court to impose a RM20,000 bail on Zigan but his lawyer, Sharil Azwan Nizan, appealed to the court to impose a minimum amount as bail, saying that the accused was the sole breadwinner of his family.
The court then allowed RM6,000 bail to the accused and set March 30 for mention.
Earlier this week, several social media posts alleged that Lim had chaired a meeting related to TH.
Fellow minister Gobind Singh Deo condemned the said criminal intimidation against Lim and said he regarded it as a serious matter.
He added Lim had nothing to do with the TH meeting as the pilgrimage fund is solely under the purview of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
A statement from the PM’s Department later clarified that the picture that went viral was actually taken during Mujahid’s visit with Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) director-general and officials of Jakim’s Shariah Maqasid Division to the finance ministry to explain the concept of Rahmatan Lil’ Alamin Islamic administration on Feb 18.
Related reports:
Feb 20, Police Report Filed over Tabung Haji-Guan Eng Social Media Posts
Feb 19, Mujahid Takes Responsibility for Sale of TH Hotels, Slams Those Baying for Guan Eng’s Blood