Friday March 13, 2009
Six to be charged for insulting Perak Sultan in blogs, web posts
By LOURDES CHARLES
KUALA LUMPUR: Six people who allegedly insulted the Sultan of Perak via their blogs or by posting of comments are likely to be the first of many people to be charged today under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
The six are expected to be charged in the Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, and Butterworth lower courts for unwise use of network or network services for making comments, demands, suggestions or communication which are vulgar, false, threatening or disturbing.
The charges under Section 233(1) of the Act are to be read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Two others are also expected to face similar charges in Terengganu on Sunday.
It is believed the comments and posting in the blogs are linked to the political crisis currently besieging Perak following the return of power to Barisan Nasional.
If they are charged under Section 233(1), they stand to face a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum jail term of one year or both as provided for under Section 233(3) of the Act.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed yesterday that his officers were expected to charge several people today but declined to elaborate on the facts of the case.
It is learnt that several senior Information, Communication and Technology executives working with the Perak State Secretary lodged a report with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on Feb 16 after reading the offending posting and comments in several of the blogs that were said to be linked to the Sultan of Perak’s web site.
Several of the offending comments were also posted and sent to the Perak state government website.
The commission acting on the complaint started a round-the-clock probe and after about a month of investigations obtained several search warrants to further investigate the matter.
Commission officers armed raided several premises and shoplots throughout the country, including some in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here, Kajang, Sri Kembangan, Permatang Pauh in Penang and Ranau in Sabah where the culprits were alleged to have operated from.
Sources said the raiding team seized computers, modems, telephone bills.
News Poll
- Teacher held for oral sex on Year Two girl
- Lau sought psychiatrist’s help after death of fan’s dad
- Police shoot dead leader of ‘Berong Gang’
- Australian court sentences Malaysian who posed as taxi driver
- Prime Minister comes up with plan to end crisis in MCA
- Fresh polls in six to eight months if new mechanism used
- Eli’s ex still being sought by cops
- Settle RM57, 5As pupil told High scorer can’t collect result slip
- Ong’s political secretary resigns
- The Star goes to Sarawak
- 10 states see increase in number of dengue cases
- AirAsia launches new flights to three Indian cities
- Teacher held for oral sex on Year Two girl
- Australian court sentences Malaysian who posed as taxi driver
- Lau sought psychiatrist’s help after death of fan’s dad
- Prime Minister comes up with plan to end crisis in MCA
- Take care of yourself first
- Police shoot dead leader of ‘Berong Gang’
- MACC accepts court decision
- Researcher: Faint writing seen on Shroud of Turin
RSS
