Man Jailed Three Months for Offensive Facebook Post Against Malaysian PM

SEPANG – A man was sentenced to three months in prison by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to making a grossly offensive post against the Prime Minister via Facebook last March.

Judge Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin handed down the sentence to Mohamed Shazrin Jamil, 35, after he entered the guilty plea once the charge was read out to him.

Mohamed Shazrin was charged with knowingly making and initiating the transmission of communications alleged to be grossly offensive via the Facebook account "Shazrin Kedah" with the intent to annoy others at approximately 6:15 pm on March 12, which was subsequently viewed at Menara 1, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in Cyberjaya, Selangor.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and is punishable under Section 233(2) of the same Act.

The section provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both upon conviction. The accused may also be fined a further RM5,000 for every day the offense continues after conviction.

MCMC Deputy Public Prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab urged the court to impose a commensurate sentence, taking into account public interest and the need to deter similar offenses from recurring. He argued that a strict sentence would not only serve as a lesson to the accused, but also act as a warning to the public against committing similar acts.

However, defense counsel Amer Haiqal Mohd Yusof, representing Mohamed Shazrin, pleaded for a shorter prison term on the grounds that his client is responsible for caring for both of his parents, who suffer from health issues.