BUTTERWORTH: A farmer was charged at the Sessions Court here today with publishing a seditious remark and defaming His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
Azman Md Yusof, 45, claimed trial when the charge was read to him by the court interpreter before Judge Noor Aini Yusof.
"'Faham. Tak mengaku salah'," he said when asked if he understood the charge and for his plea.
The father-of-four is alleged to have published a seditious remark and defamed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong through the Khariah Pmtg Sungai Dua WhatsApp group.
He allegedly committed the offence at a house in Permatang Sungai Dua, Kepala Batas near here about 8.45pm last Thursday (April 25).
He was charged under Paragraph 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum three years imprisonment or RM5,000 fine or both upon conviction.
State prosecution director Mohd Nordin Ismail prosecuted while the accused was represented by Mohd Izad Buqhary Mohd Kamri.
Mohd Nordin told the court that Chegubard (Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin) was also charged for two similar offences yesterday and was released on a RM20,000 bail.
(Hyperlink: )
"Based on that, the prosecution is proposing a bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
"We also urged the court to impose additional conditions, that the said WhatApp group be deactivated with immediate effect.
"The accused is also refrained from making any such remarks through WhatsApp or any other social media platforms," he said.
Mohd Izad, meanwhile, pleaded for a lower bail, saying that his client was only working as a farmer with no fixed income and has four school-going children, aged 16, 14, six and four.
"His family is dependent on him as his wife is not working.
"My client also pledged not to repeat similar mistakes in future and will adhere to the prosecution's additional conditions.
"If possible, we are asking for RM5,000 bail, similar to the fine for this offence.
Noor Aini set bail at RM6,500 with one surety and fixed May 20 for mention pending the submission of documents.
She also ordered the said WhatsApp group be deactivated.
"The accused is also not allowed to make any such postings on social media until the end of the case," she added.
Azman's wife and elderly mother were among those seated in the public gallery.
