KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth was charged in the Magistrate’s Court today with making statements that sparked provocative debate over religious and racial issues regarding the organisation of a rally in front of a shopping complex in the capital last month.
The 42-year-old, whose real name is Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Magistrate Faezahnoor Hassan.
"Understand the charge, plead not guilty," said the accused in the dock, wearing a blue suit.
According to the charge, he is accused of posting a statement on his Facebook account, “Zamri Vinoth,” at 12.22pm on February 3 that could cause public alarm and potentially incite others to commit offences against public order.
The statement was allegedly seen and heard by a 45-year-old man at the Nasi Kandar Kudu Restaurant along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The charge was brought under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine, or both if convicted.
The court allowed Zamri bail of RM4,500 with one surety and set April 29 for mention.
The case was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Mohd Nordin Ismail, Izzat Amir Idham and Nur Farhana Mohamad Poad, while the accused was represented by lawyer Muhammad Hariz Md Yusoff.
Earlier, Nordin proposed bail of RM10,000, describing the amount as reasonable in light of the case, with about 100 police reports lodged against the accused as of February 3, indicating the matter had caused public alarm.
“About 100 police reports had been made until February 3…this is what we consider a matter that causes public fear. The amount of bail is not a constraint on the accused, but we leave it to the discretion of the court,” he said.
In contrast, Hariz applied for the minimum bail, arguing that his client had appeared in court voluntarily and was not under arrest.
“My client has never received any notice requiring him to appear at the police station to give a statement or to face charges until he was barred from leaving the country,” he said.
Hariz added that Zamri’s trip to Thailand on March 9 was not an attempt to flee, but to arrange a couple’s wedding. The accused returned to Malaysia on March 12, a day before Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail issued a media statement.
He further argued that, in the absence of any evidence restricting his movement, the accused had the right to travel, particularly given his ongoing business in Thailand.
“For the record, my client’s border pass and passport show that he has been travelling to Thailand since 2017 to arrange weddings, as part of cooperation between the Songkhla Islamic Religious Council and the Perlis Islamic Religious Council, as well as running a second-hand goods business that requires him to source stock,” Hariz said.
The lawyer emphasised that bail is meant to ensure Zamri's attendance in court, not to impose an excessive burden.
“At this stage, we are not addressing the merits of the case, as that will be determined during the trial. The court is only setting bail to ensure the accused’s presence.
“My client is here not because he was arrested, but because he appeared voluntarily with full cooperation to face the charges and clear his name through the legal process,” he said.
