Hearing set for man charged with making offensive comment on Prophet Muhammad

A man, who was charged with two counts of uploading and making offensive comment on Prophet Muhammad SAW, will be tried at the Sessions Court here on October 23, 29 and 30 this year.

Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim fixed the trial date for Mohd Sharulnizam Stanley Sigan, 28, yesterday when the case came up for mention of the status of his representation letter to the deputy public prosecutor’s office.

Deputy public prosecutor Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Affendy informed the court that the representation letter was dismissed and he received instructions to proceed with the trial.

On the first charge, Mohd Sharulnizam was accused of uploading the comment which was likely to cause religious disharmony between groups of Muslims and non-muslims.

The alleged offence was framed under Section 298A (1)(a) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of not less than two years and not more than five years.

On the second charge, he was alleged to have made and initiated the transmission of the comment with intent to annoy the public who read it.

For this offence, he was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and faces a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term of up to a year, or both, if found guilty.

He was alleged to have committed the offence through Mobile Legend application under a profile name BAKAKUK at 11.48pm on February 26 and the comment was read on February 27 at 1am at Taman Kinarut, Papar.

Counsel PJ Perira represented the accused, who is currently released on bail.