By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 8: A Facebook account holder by the name of `Ayea’ pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today for uploading onto the social media platform offending remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
He was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison and fined RM50,000 for all 10 charges.
Alister Cogia, 22, from Singai, Bau, was slapped with 10 charges, where five charges were under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 298A(1) of the same Code. The remaining charges were under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga sentenced him to two years’ jail for each charge under Section 298A(1)(a) and fined him RM10,000 in default two months imprisonment for each charge under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Jason ordered the jail term to run consecutively.
He was charged with making comments on Facebook that could cause disharmony and discomfort among the people on Feb 9 at about 7.11pm, on Feb 10 at about 12.56am, on Feb 14 at about 1.28am, on Feb 24 at about 10pm and on Feb 24 at about 10.05pm.
He was arrested at an unnumbered house in Singai, Bau, on March 3, 2019, at about 12.15am.
Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code relates to causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity on grounds of religion. This section carries imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than five years.
Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 relates to improper use of network facilities or network services. This section carries a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or an imprisonment term of not more than one year or both and a fine of RM1,000 every day in which the offence is continued after completion.
Sarawak’s head of prosecution Isa Hassim and Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azhari Yusof prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented. — DayakDaily
