Three cases of making offensive remarks against higher authority.
Housewife jailed, fined for insulting Prophet Muhammad
A housewife and mother of two was sentenced to a total of six months’ jail and fined RM15,000 by the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court today after she was found guilty on three counts of insulting Prophet Muhammad.
Magistrate Siti Hanum Mohmad Sah handed down the sentence on Tham Yut Mooi after the defence failed to raise reasonable doubts against the prosecution’s case.
Tham, 46, was charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code with making offensive remarks against the Prophet at the Abu Ubaidah Mosque, Jalan Perpaduan, Taman Perpaduan Ulu Kinta here at about 5.30pm on May 4 last year.
The remarks, which were intended to annoy others, were heard by Mohd Halim Buyong, 44, Abdul Rahim Mat Diah, 53, and Mohd Yunos Harun, 73.
The court, however, allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal and set bail at RM5,000 with one surety.
Tham was also ordered to surrender her passport to the court.
Ex-medical houseman fined for insulting King and PM on FB
Former medical houseman Mohd Shariman Shahrir Omar was fined RM10,000 in default of six months’ jail for insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister.
Sessions Court judge Zaman Mohd Noor meted out the sentence after Mohd Shariman, 39, pleaded guilty to posting a comment on Facebook with intention to annoy others at 11.42pm on Oct 11 last year.
He was charged under the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.
DPP Mohd Sophian Zakaria told the court the accused had committed a serious offence when he used words such as “bodoh” (stupid) and “dayus” (a recreant male) to describe the King.
“It showed the accused had no respect and loyalty to the nation’s leader,” he said.
The prosecution asked the court to impose a heavy sentence as a warning to others.
His lawyer Adlizan Noor, however, asked to court to consider that the accused was once an excellent student.
“Mohd Shariman was a Public Service Department (PSD) scholar who studied medicine in the United Kingdom.
“But due to work pressure during his housemanship, he was unable to continue his service.
“He had a RM1mil loan that he had to repay to the PSD,” Adlizan said.
He added that Mohd Shariman, who was now working at his father’s durian orchard in Johor, had apologised to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his “misjudgement” in posting the offensive words.
He also asked the court not to impose imprisonment.
Lorry driver supervisor charged for insulting PM on FB
A lorry driver supervisor was accused in the Cyber Court yesterday of posting offensive remarks against the Prime Minister on his Facebook page.
However, Muhammad Amirul Helmy Hisham, 23, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Zaman Mohd Noor.
He was charged with insulting the Prime Minister on his Facebook account at 10.23am on Nov 18 last year.
The charge, under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act, carries a fine of up to RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to a year, or both. A further fine of RM1,000 will be imposed for every day the offence is continued after conviction.
The court fixed bail at RM4,000 in one surety.
The case is set for mention on Feb 12.