KUALA LUMPUR: A man who initially admitted to posting offensive remarks on the 'Allah' socks issue has pleaded not guilty.
Chiok Wai Loong made the plea change when charged with the same offence before Sessions Court Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali today.
The 34-year-old is accused of initiating the offence through a posting on his Facebook account, 'Chiok Wai Loong', with the intention to annoy others on March 18.
If found guilty under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he can be jailed for up to a year, fined up to RM50,000, or both.
On March 22, Chiok pleaded guilty to the same offence and was sentenced to six months in jail and fined RM12,000 before Judge Suzana Hussin.
However, presiding over a revision application filed by Chiok's lawyers at the High Court, Judge Datuk Ahmad Bache said he found the entire process unfair to the accused.
Chiok's conviction and sentence was quashed and Ahmad directed the accused to be charged again before a different lower court.
Chiok was represented by lawyer Latheefa Koya while deputy public prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh prosecuted.
Kalmizah asked the court to impose RM15,000 bail with one surety against the accused.
"We also seek for additional conditions where the accused has to report to the nearest police station monthly and not leave the country until the disposal of the case.
Latheefa then told the court that Chiok was jobless and stayed with his elderly parents.
"I am surprised by the additional conditions as this is a bailable offence, there should not be any further conditions.
"My client has fully cooperated since being brought to court. He is bankrupt and will not go anywhere," she said.
The court set RM5,000 bail with one surety without any additional conditions.
