Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth and activist Arun Dorasamy have pleaded not guilty to charges of making statements likely to cause public alarm.
KUALA LUMPUR: Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth and activist Arun Dorasamy were among three individuals charged in separate courts for allegedly making statements that could cause public alarm.
Zamri Vinoth, 42, whose real name is Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court before Magistrate Faezahnoor Hassan.
He was charged with making a statement on his Facebook account on Feb 3 that was likely to cause public alarm and incite offences against public order.
The statement was allegedly seen and heard by a 45-year-old man at a restaurant along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Activist Arun Dorasamy, 56, also pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Nurul Aina Ahmad at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged for allegedly posting a statement on his Instagram account that could incite public disorder at a shopping centre in Batu Kawan on March 12.
The statement reportedly called on a Hindu organisation to stage a street protest if no action was taken against Zamri Vinoth over a controversial video involving radio presenters.
In a separate proceeding at the Seremban Magistrate’s Court, e-hailing driver P. Mahendra Bhoopaty, 53, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli.
Mahendra was charged with uploading a Facebook video containing statements likely to cause public alarm.
In the video, he questioned religious sensitivities by comparing a temple and a mosque, asking, “kalau kuil India di bawah jambatan haram, yang ini masjid bawah jambatan flyover macam mana? haram ke halal, cuba terangkan”.
The offence was allegedly committed at a mosque in Kampung Dato Mansor last Feb 27.
Mahendra was fined RM4,000, in default seven months’ imprisonment.
All three were charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.