Man fined $8,000 for posting remarks insulting Johor sultan

JOHOR BARU - A 28-year-old man was yesterday fined RM20,000 (S$8,000) after he was found guilty of posting remarks insulting the Sultan of Johor on a Facebook account last year.

Ahmad Abdul Jalil, a quantity surveyor, was accused of committing the offence under the account name "Zul Yahya" on a computer at his office in Jalan Wangsa Delima 11, Seksyen 5, Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, at 6pm on Oct 10 last year.

He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a jail term of not more than one year, or both, upon conviction.

Counsel Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin, who represented Ahmad, asked that his client be fined rather than jailed as he was pursuing his Masters degree and supporting his wife who is studying at a local university.

"My client has no criminal record and has a bright future with a career that can contribute to society. I hope the court will spare him the jail sentence."

Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin found Ahmad guilty and ordered him to pay the fine, in default of a six months' jail term.

Ahmad was charged on Nov 8 and ordered to enter his defence on July 25. A total of 30 prosecution witnesses and nine defence witnesses were called in the proceedings, which began on Feb 5. Ahmad paid the fine.