Blogger pleads not guilty to insulting king on Facebook

Blogger Aspan Alias pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to a charge of posting insulting remarks against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on his Facebook account in May.

Aspan, 69, was charged with the improper use of network facilities by initiating the transmission of offensive communications with the intention to annoy others using a Facebook account with the profile name “Aspan Alias” at 2.47pm on May 16.

The post was read at 9am on May 18 at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division Office at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters, on the 27th floor of Menara KPJ in Wangsa Maju.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both, with the individual also liable for a further fine of RM1,000 for every day the offence is committed after conviction.

Judge MM Edwin Paramjothy allowed Aspan, represented by lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, bail of RM3,000 with one surety and set Dec 10 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Najihah Farhana Che Awang prosecuted.