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GEORGE TOWN: An NGO leader was charged with internet abuse in the courtroom here today for comments he made about the police force on Facebook two years ago.
Haridas Kolandavellu, 40, from Seremban, was charged with making an offensive post on March 26, 2018 on his Facebook group “Defender People’s Rights Group”.
He was charged with misuse of the network service by making an offensive comment with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act of 1998.
The charge carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum jail term of one year or both, upon conviction.
Haridas has pleaded not guilty.
An individual from Asia Heights at Bandar Baru Air Itam filed a police report against Haridas on March 28.
The author claimed to have been offended by Haridas’ alleged racist and insulting comments against the police force, who claimed that police officers of Indian descent had protected those carrying out illegal investment plans.
Deputy Prosecutor Nabila Huda Muhammad Nazim asked the court to deny Haridas bail due to the seriousness of the alleged crime.
In case a bond is allowed, he said, it should be set at RM30,000 and not less.
Session Judge Norsalha Hamzah posted a bond of RM20,000 on a guarantee and set March 11 for handling the case.
Haridas, who runs Pertubuhan Amal Mengutamakan Kejujuran, was not represented and did not post bail because he could not afford it, according to court bailiffs.
