TAIPING – Pertubuhan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin (PMSP) Malaysia president Ramesh Rao was charged in the sessions court here today with uploading an offensive post on Twitter.
Ramesh, 50, however pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Zulhelmy Hasan.
He is accused of committing the offence on the Twitter handle @RameshRaoAKS**** at the link http://twitter.com/RameshRaoAKS/status/1287974441347997697 with the intention to hurt the feelings of others.
He is alleged to have committed the offence on July 28 at 12.58pm and was noticed at No. 10, Lorong 2 Taman Desa Trong Utama here at 8pm the same day.
He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same act.
If convicted, he can be fined not more than RM50,000 or jailed not more than a year or both, and can be fined an additional RM1,000 for each day the tweet continues to be carried on Twitter after conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Sariza Ismail appeared for the prosecution while Ramesh was represented by counsel Shamsher Singh Thind.
Earlier, Sariza had asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 while Shamsher Singh urged that it be reduced to RM5,000 citing that it was a summons case and that there was no risk of his client, who is from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, absconding.
Shamser Singh added that his client showed respect for the court by being present today even though the peninsula states are under the movement control order to contain the pandemic.
The court set bail at RM6,000 with one surety and fixed March 16 fo remention and document submission. – Bernama, February 10, 2021
