KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno veteran Datuk Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin failed in his bid to have a charge linked to an offensive Facebook post on Covid-19 vaccines procurement dropped.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal informed the Sessions Court today that the 72-year-old's representation had been rejected by the Kuala Lumpur prosecution unit.
"The rejection has been informed to the defence via e-mail," she said during proceedings before judge Siti Aminah Ghazali today.
Zarin's defence counsel, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, confirmed the matter and said they would file a second representation with the Attorney-General's Chambers this week.
"We apply to the court to set a mention date to update the status of the second representation as well as trial dates," he said.
The court fixed July 4 and Aug 12 respectively for the update of the second representation and setting of trial dates.
After proceedings, Abu Bakar said the first representation was sent to the unit on March 27 and the decision was conveyed on April 23.
On Jan 31, the former Bandar Tun Razak Umno division secretary was charged with uploading offensive posts on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines on his Facebook account four years ago.
Zarin, as the summoned person, claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Sessions Court Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
The charge sheet read that Abd Zarin, as a blogger, had consciously made and initiated a post which was offensive in nature and intended to offend others through Facebook under the name Zaharin Mohamad Yasin at 2.03am on Dec 21, 2020.
The post was read at the Health Ministry at 3pm on Dec 22 the same year.