JAIL, FINE FOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
He uploaded offensive image of country’s leader on Facebook
AGRAPHIC designer was sentenced to a month’s jail and fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court here for uploading an offensive image of the country’s leader on his Facebook account two years ago.
Judge Norashima Khalid handed down the sentence on Mohd Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, 40, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
However, the court allowed a stay of the sentence, pending an appeal in the High Court and allowed Fahmi a bail of RM10,000 in one surety. Fahmi was charged with improper use of the network facilities by knowingly creating a communication that was offensive, with the intention to annoy other people through his Facebook account, “Fahmi Reza”, on Feb 8, 2016.
The posting was allegedly uploaded at Seraya Sdn Bhd in Batu 3, Jalan Jelapang, here, at 2.40pm the same day.
The charge, under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and punishable under Section 233(3) of the same act, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, or jail of up to a year, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Sophian Zakaria and Nazrul Nizam Zameri from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) prosecuted. Fahmi was represented by counsel Syahredzuan Johan.
Earlier in mitigation, Syahredzuan asked the court to impose a fine of RM10,000 as it was his client’s first offence.
However, Sophian said the court should not sympathise with the accused because he realised the implications of his actions.