By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, June 21: The High Court here has maintained the lower court’s decision to fine a salesman using a profile named ‘Hui Tai Lang’ on Facebook for defaming former Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei on the social media platform.
The Magistrate’s Court had earlier discharged and acquitted Chin Siaw Hong, 53, but later fined him after the prosecution appealed their case.
On Dec 10, 2018, Wong lodged six police reports at the Kuching Police One Stop Centre against different social media pages for slander and defamation.
Upon police investigation, it was found that the posts shared by ‘Hui Tai Lang’ were not true.
On Feb 17, 2020, the Magistrate’s Court had discharged and acquitted Chin on the charge framed under Section 500 of the Penal Code for posting defamatory messages and images via his Facebook account, at about 12.54pm on Dec 9, 2018.
However, the prosecution was not satisfied with the sentence of the Magistrate’s Court and appealed it to the Kuching High Court.
On Feb 19, 2021, High Court Judge Zaleha Rose Pandin ordered Chin to enter his defence at the Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Zaiton found Chin guilty of the charge and fined him RM10,000 or in default to 2 months’ imprisonment.
Chin then appealed against the decision of the Magistrate’s Court to the High Court.
High Court Judge Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli today maintained the decision of the Magistrate’s Court to convict Chin as charged and fined him RM10,000 or in default to 2 months’ imprisonment. — DayakDaily
