Couple charged over Android boxes

Directors plead not guilty to possession of 79 units that did not meet MCMC standard

PETALING JAYA: A married couple and their company were charged in the Sessions Court here with selling Android boxes which did not meet the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia (MCMC) standards.

Chen Kai Yi, 39, and Yeak Wak Ying, 33, both directors of LC Marketing Networking Media Sdn Bhd, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read out separately before judge Hilmiah Yusof.

They were charged with possession of 79 units of a non-standard Android box, with the intention to sell them at F04, Digital Mall, Section 14 here at 12.30pm on Oct 2.

The devices were found to not meet the standards set under Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000.

The couple was charged under Section 244 (1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, read together with Regulations 16(1)(b) of Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000.

They face a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both if found guilty.

MCMC head of prosecution Mohd Sophian Zakaria, who prosecuted, offered bail of RM10,000 on each of them and requested for a joint trial.

Judge Hilmiah set bail at RM7,000 in one surety each and fixed May 8 for mention, reported Bernama.

The Star in February reported that the days of accessing illegal streaming content through Android boxes are numbered as MCMC and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry are cracking down on these unauthorised sites.

As of February, MCMC has blocked 246 sites providing the unauthorised screening of movies, documentaries and news over the set-top box.

MCMC’s Network Security and Enforcement Sector chief officer Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin told The Star they are working closely with the ministry to block sites providing such illegal streaming.

He added MCMC blocked the domain of these illegal stream sites, which provide content that breached copyrights and intellectual property laws, making it inaccessible to Android box users.