KUALA LUMPUR: Two men pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to charges of creating and posting extremely offensive comments about the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, on social media in August.
The accused, unemployed Abdullah Aidid Mochtar @ Ahmad Duta, 44, and graphic designer Ashadi Zul’izzi Zainal Abidin, 46, entered their pleas after the charges were read before Judge Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad.
Abdullah Aidid is accused of creating and initiating the transmission of extremely offensive communications with intent to offend through the TikTok account “rookiebenz_albenzauto” at 11.27 pm on Aug 1, while Ashadi Zul’izzi is accused of committing the same offence through the Threads account “razakahmad725” at 2.39 pm on Aug 4.
The posts were viewed at Jalan Dutamas Seroja 5, Taman Segambut (SPPK), here, at 12.34 pm on Aug 4 and 12.15 pm on Aug 5, respectively.
Both were charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, with penalties provided under Section 233(2) of the same Act.
If convicted, they face a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, as well as a further fine of RM5,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) prosecuting officer Nazrul Nizam Mohd Zameri offered bail of RM15,000 with one surety for each accused, citing the nature of the charges involving extremely offensive communications against the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Abdullah Aidid, who was unrepresented, appealed for lower bail, saying he had lost his job following the case and had been unemployed for the past three months.
Ashadi Zul’izzi, also unrepresented, sought lower bail, saying the amount offered by the prosecution was beyond his means.
The court allowed each accused bail of RM12,000 with one surety and fixed Dec 1 for mention.
