'Sang Kelembai' Blogger Pleads Not Guilty To Alleged False Post

SEPANG, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Former Bandar Tun Razak UMNO division secretary Datuk Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of creating and initiating a false post via a social media application last November.

Abd Zarin, 74, as the person summoned, entered the plea after the charge was read out before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman.

According to the charge, the blogger known as “Sang Kelembai” was alleged to have knowingly created and initiated the transmission of false communication at 4.42 pm on Nov 9 last year using the Facebook application through an account under the name “Zaharin Mohd Yasin”.

The post was subsequently viewed at 9 pm the same day at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Tower 1 in Cyberjaya.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, punishable under Section 233(2) of the same Act, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to two years or both, as well as an additional fine of RM5,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.

MCMC deputy public prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

However, counsel Sureshmurti Ramani, representing Abd Zarin, appealed for a lower bail of RM7,000 on the grounds that his client has no fixed income, has two dependants, and suffers from chronic diabetes and hypertension.

The court allowed bail at RM8,000 with one surety and fixed April 1 for mention.

-- BERNAMA