‘Ibu Yati’ charged with fear mongering regarding coronavirus in FB

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 -- A journalist pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court  here to three charges of making statements on Facebook regarding novel coronavirus 2019 which are likely to cause fear or alarm to the public.

Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias, 41, entered the plea after the charges were read to her by an interpreter before Magistrate Tawfiq Affandy Chin.

According to all three charges, the accused through her Facebook account, 'Ibu Yati', knowingly made statements about the virus with the intention to cause fear or alarm to the public or any section of the public.

The three statements were read on her Facebook page at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman, here, at 10 pm on January 26, 2020.

The accused was charged under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of two years or with fine or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Ellyna Nor Azmal prosecuted while the accused who was not represented.

The court allowed bail of RM12,000 with one surety for all the charges and set March 11 for remention.

-- BERNAMA