TEMERLOH – A labourer was sentenced to a day’s jail and fined RM8,000 after pleading guilty to uploading obscene communication against Pahang’s Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Facebook last year.
Sessions court Judge Manira Mohd Nor ordered Yusaini Razab @ Che Soh, 42, from Kuala Krai, Kelantan, to serve three months’ jail should he fail to settle the fine.
In her judgment, Manira said the sentence took into account the accused’s appeal, adding that the offence is serious as it involves contempt against the royal institution.
“You should be more careful when uploading content on social media. Contempt against the royal institution should be curbed, and the court needs to teach a lesson.”
Yusaini was accused of making and initiating communication that is obscene in nature against the Pahang sultan, who is also the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with the intention of annoying others on Facebook, using the “Al Naml” profile.
The comment was read at 9pm on March 7 last year at a house in Taman Permatang Shahbandar, Maran.
The charge is framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988, punishable under Section 233(3) of the same act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, or imprisonment of up to a year, or both, and liable to a further RM1,000 fine for every day the offence is continued after conviction.
Police arrested Yusaini on June 17 last year, following a report lodged by a member of the public. A smartphone believed to have been used by the accused to upload the content in question was seized.
Deputy public prosecutor Ain Fadilah Md Ali sought an appropriate punishment as the accused’s action disturbed public harmony.
Pleading for leniency, Yusaini, who was unrepresented, said he makes only RM1,500 a month and has an ageing mother to support. – Bernama, April 26, 2021
