KUALA LUMPUR – Graphic designer and activist Fahmi Reza has submitted a representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on two charges of making offensive communications through his Twitter and Facebook social media sites last year.
The matter was informed by his lawyer N. Yohendra when the case came up for mention before sessions court judge M. M. Edwin Paramjothy today.
Yohendra said the letter of representation was sent to the AGC yesterday and the hard copy of the representation was submitted to the prosecution today. This was confirmed by deputy public prosecutor Najihah Farhana Che Awang.
The two charges made against Fahmi are related to satirical artworks he had produced on the quarantine period for ministers who return from official visits abroad and the ban on the sale of liquor in the country.
During the proceedings, the court set July 7 and 20 to hear the case on the charge involving the quarantine period for ministers and August 8 and 9 for the case on the ban of liquor sales.
The court also set June 8 for mention to be informed on the status of the representation.
Last February 10, Fahmi pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here to the first charge.
He was charged with knowingly making and initiating the transmission of obscene communications using the Twitter account of “Fahmi Reza” or “@kuasasiswa” with the intention of offending others at 3.02pm on February 10, 2021.
The content was then read at the Health Ministry’s corporate communications head office, Precinct 1, Putrajaya, at 4pm on February 11 the same year.
On February 17, he was charged again in the sessions court and pleaded not guilty, this time over his artwork on the ban of the sale of liquor in the country.
He was charged with committing the act with the intention of offending others through his Facebook page using the profile “Fahmi Reza” at 11.45am, on June 1, 2021.
The posting was then read at a unit at Pangsapuri Melur, Sentul Perdana, Bandar Baru Sentul here, at 9am on June 2, 2021.
All the charges were framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, whereby an offence is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, and shall be further fined RM1,000 for each day the offence is continued after conviction, if convicted. – Bernama, April 29, 2022
