[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Court of Sessions here on Friday (April 2) fined a photographer from a production company RM15,000 on two counts of insulting Hinduism on his Facebook account two years ago.
Judge MM Edwin Paramjothy handed down the sentence against Zamri Abdul Razak, 54, after finding that the defense had not raised reasonable doubts against the defendant at the end of the defense case.
Edwin, in his opinion, said that freedom of expression does not include the freedom to insult and demean any religion and religious beliefs of others with impunity.
“The crime of insulting one’s religion is committed not only against the person but also against the values and functions that religion and its followers represent. Religion is something personal and dear to those who profess it.
“I also take into consideration his poor health conditions as a mitigating factor. Although it is my mind not to impose a custodial sentence in this case, I agree with the Deputy Prosecutor (DPP) that it is important that there is a proper balance. being struck between sympathy for the offender and the pain and suffering that he had inflicted on his victim or the damage that his criminal activity had done to society, ”he said.
He added that the evidence available before this court pointed to the fact that there was no systematic arrangement and there was also no evidence that the OKS (person being subpoenaed) continually commented or posted more vile comments.
The man, who was fined 8,000 yuan in six months in jail for the first count and 7,000 in six months in jail for the second count, paid the fine.
On the first and second counts, Zamri allegedly uploaded two offensive comments on his Facebook account under the name “Zamri Bin Abd Razak” with the intention of offending others.
According to the charges, the content was read by a Facebook user “Saravana Kumar” at the Office of the Cybercrime and Multimedia Investigation Division of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman Police Station, on the 27th floor of Menara KPJ at Wangsa Maju, here. , at 12:45 p.m. on March 10, 2019.
The charges were brought under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and are punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same law, which establishes a maximum fine of RM 50,000. or up to a year in jail. or both, after conviction and a fine of RM 1,000 for each day the offense is repeated after conviction.
On March 24, Zamri was found guilty after the court determined that the defense had not cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case.
DPP Nor Azizah Aling and Iznina Hanim Hashim were prosecuted, while Zamri was represented by lawyer Mohd Harris Al-Hajj Abdullah. – Appointed
[ad_2]
