SEPANG, Oct 20 — A businessman pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to a charge of creating and posting offensive content on social media last January.
Muhammad Zubair Ismail, 44, entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin.
According to the charge sheet, he is accused of creating and initiating the transmission of grossly offensive communications with intent to annoy others on Facebook through the account "Tam Jebat" on January 12.
The post was subsequently viewed at Menara Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) 1, Cyberjaya, at 3pm on January 13.
The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 or two years' imprisonment or both, and a further fine of RM5,000 for every day the offence persists after conviction.
MCMC prosecuting officer Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
However, the accused’s lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali appealed for lower bail, saying his client was self-employed, his wife is unemployed, and he supports four children still in school.
The court granted bail of RM5,000 with one surety and fixed November 17 for mention.
