A 48-YEAR-old man claimed his phone had fallen into the water while fishing, after being charged with 11 counts of posting offensive comments about the prime minister’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, on Facebook earlier this year.
Ruslan Mat Ali pleaded not guilty before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to all charges, which relate to alleged postings made via a Facebook account bearing his name between January 2 and February 25.
The posts, deemed offensive, were said to have been read at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) Centre of Excellence in Cyberjaya on February 4 and February 26.
For the 11th charge, prosecutors said Ruslan uploaded a post that was “excessively offensive” on February 25.
“I dropped my phone while I was fishing. I don’t know where the comments came from. They just kept coming in,” New Straits Times cited Ruslan telling the court in his defence.
He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for using network facilities to knowingly make and transmit offensive content. The offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, up to one year in prison, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed bail of RM15,000, suggesting all charges be jointly tried due to overlapping evidence and witnesses.
Ruslan, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a reduced bail, citing financial hardship, unstable employment, and responsibility for three children following his divorce.
Judge Ahmad Fuad granted bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered all charges to be jointly tried. The case is scheduled for mention on July 18.
However, it is understood that Ruslan remained in custody after failing to post bail. - June 20, 2025
