A schoolboy pleaded guilty and was fined for insulting the Perak Sultan on Twitter, while an assistant hotel manager claimed trial to insulting the police force on Facebook.
A Form Six student was ordered to read the ‘Rukun Negara’ (National Principles) in the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court today before being meted a fine of RM5,000, in default of three months’ jail, for insulting the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, on a social website last Friday.
Magistrate Siti Hafiza Jaafar ordered the accused to read the ‘Rukun Negara’ by emphasising the fifth principle, which is on good behaviour and morality.
“The offence (insulting the sultan) is liable to imprisonment, but you are still schooling, and as a lesson for your and others, a punitive punishment should be given,” she said before handing down the sentence.
The 19-year-old student, who is sitting for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) next month pleaded guilty to improper use of network facilities by transmitting offensive comments through the Twitter application on the sultan with an intention to annoy others.
The offence was committed at Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh at 10.30 pm last Oct 13.
The charge was made under Section 233(1)(A) of the Communications and Multimedia Act which provided a maximum fine of RM50,000, or an imprisonment for up to a year, or both, upon conviction.
A lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, Awatif Ahmad Bashir, who represented the student, said his client was remorseful and apologised for his action.
Deputy public prosecutor Irna Julieza Maaras prosecuted.
Perak police chief Hasnan Hassan said the 19-year-old was a Form Six student at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah 1 in Muar, Johor.
He added that the arrest was made after police received six reports on Oct 14 about the matter.
“According to the reports, the Twitter account of a Malay man had a comment which contained words which insulted the Sultan of Perak.
“Early investigations found that the insulting words were the result of a brawl between the supporters of two football teams, Perak Power and My Football Liga, which led to the suspect using words which insulted the Sultan of Perak.”
Insulting police force through Facebook
In a separate case, an assistant manager of a hotel pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Oct 19 to a charge of making offensive remarks against the police on his Facebook page four months ago.
Christopher Khor Chee Ning, 26, was charged with using his Facebook account to consciously create and initiate a post with comments that insulted the police force with intent to annoy others.
He was alleged to have committed the offence at Block B, 12-06, PJS One Apartment, Jalan PJS 1/35, Taman Petaling Utama, Petaling Jaya, at 7.11am on June 10.
The charge, under Section 233(1) (a) of the Multimedia Communications Act 1998 and punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same Act, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for a year, or both, upon conviction.
The court allowed bail at RM4,000 with one surety, and fixed Nov 15 for re-mention of the case.
The accused was unrepresented.