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In a recent development, a 61-year-old man found himself in legal trouble after being charged for posting offensive remarks about the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, on Facebook. The incident occurred back in February, and the case was brought before the Sessions Court in Sepang, Malaysia, on July 4.
The charges were framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which prohibits the dissemination of offensive content via communications networks. The man's case was adjourned for a psychiatric assessment of his mental state, a move that suggests concerns about his ability to understand the gravity of the offense.
The specific content of the offensive remarks has not been detailed in the available information. However, it is clear that the charges were related to the comments made about His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab and prosecuting officer Mohamad Azmir Mohd Razali appeared for the prosecution. The penalty for conviction includes a fine not exceeding RM50,000 and imprisonment for up to one year, as prescribed under Section 233(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
It is worth noting that the charges were not read out to the 61-year-old man due to his health and hearing issues. The court granted the accused permission to undergo a psychiatric assessment, and the case has been fixed for mention on August 15.
Unfortunately, the man failed to appear in court twice, which could potentially impact the progress of his case. As the case is still ongoing, further details about the exact wording of the remarks or the current status of the case after the psychiatric evaluation are not available.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the dignity and honour of the King and other royal figures in Malaysia. It also emphasizes the serious consequences that can arise from posting offensive content on social media platforms.
- The man's case, related to posting offensive remarks about the King of Malaysia, will be discussed again in the court on August 15.
- The charges against the man, who failed to appear in court twice, are framed under Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, specifically Section 233(1)(a), for disseminating offensive content.
- The charges against the man, if found guilty, could result in a fine not exceeding RM50,000 and imprisonment for up to one year, as outlined in Section 233(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, under the category of 'crime-and-justice' news.
