A 21-YEAR-OLD higher education student pleaded not guilty at the Kuantan Sessions Court today to defiling a copy of the Quran by stepping on it and sharing the act on social media.
The accused, K Vikneswaran, 21, made the plea after the charge was read out before Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad.
He was charged under Section 295 of the Penal Code (Act 574) for desecrating an object considered sacred, namely the Al-Quran, by stepping on it, which act was done with the knowledge that it was an insult to the religion of Islam.
He also faces a charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) for making and initiating a communication of an extremely obscene nature with the intention of hurting another person through the Threads application.
Section 295 of the Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine or both, while Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 provide for a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or both.
Earlier, the accused arrived at the Court Complex at about 9 am under tight security.
Wearing a red shirt and pants, the accused, whose remand period ended today, was accompanied by several police officers to the Sessions Court on the first floor.
His presence also attracted the attention of the public at the court complex.
The accused, who is also a student at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), was arrested on February 25. – March 3, 2026
