‘Vivian had intention to publish posting that insulted Islam’

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told yesterday that Vivian Lee, who is blogger Alvin Tan’s former girlfriend, had intention to publish a posting that insulted Islam on Facebook five years ago.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said this was proven through an affidavit-in-reply by the woman, whose real name is Lee May Ling, and Alvin Tan, whose real name is Tan Jye Yee.

“The affidavit is not made by a witness who is dead or someone who cannot be traced, and the affidavit was also used in the hearing proceeding of the case,” he said.

Wan Shaharuddin said that in the affidavit, Lee also admitted to making the posting, which purportedly contained seditious words, and had intention with Tan to publish the posting.

“I appeal to the court to set aside the five-month and 22-day jail sentence meted out by a Sessions Court judge and request an imprisonment for a year to be imposed on Lee,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Chong Joo Tian, representing Lee, who was in court yesterday, said his client and her exboyfriend had no intention of publishing the posting and also denied publishing the posting on their Facebook.

“I ask the court to set aside the conviction and jail sentence which had been imposed by the Sessions Court, and if the appeal against the conviction is dismissed, I ask that my client be fined,” he said.

Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak then set April 10 for decision on the appeal by both parties.

On May 27, 2016, Lee was sentenced by the Sessions Court to five months an 22 days’ jail for insulting Muslims by making an offensive posting on Facebook.

The woman and Alvin Tan were jointly charged with committing the offence by posting a picture of them with a caption “Selamat Berbuka Puasa (with Bak Kut Teh ... fragrant, delicious and appetising) and the ‘halal’ logo” on their Facebook at 9am on July 13, 2013.

The offence, under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, provides a fine of RM5,000, or three months’ imprisonment, or both, if found guilty. — Bernama