KUALA LUMPUR: Duriankimchi YouTube channel content creator Ryzal Ibrahim was slapped with a RM10,000 fine or six months' jail in default by the Sessions Court in Miri, Sarawak yesterday.
Ryzal, 31, whose real name Nik Muhammad Ryzal Nik Ibrahim, was found guilty before Judge Azreena Aziz of ridiculing the traditional Iban costume called Ngepan Indu on his Instagram account three years ago.
He was charged under Section 223(1)(a)(ii) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), which is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act.
According to the facts of the case, complainant Agustine Geraman, 36, lodged a police report on May 27, 2021 claiming that he had watched a video on Facebook under the account Duriankimchi, which he found to have contained comments from the accused that were offensive about the Iban traditional costume known as Ngepan Indu.
The complainant claimed the comments annoyed not only him but also the whole Iban community.
A total of 27 police reports throughout Sarawak were lodged against Ryzal.
While recording the video, which was uploaded onto his Instagram account and then shared on his Facebook and YouTube accounts, Ryzal was seen pointing at parts of the traditional costume while making insulting comments.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Fillanny Siji and Ahmad Ihsan Jalalludin prosecuted the case, while Ryzal was represented by counsel Firdaus Morshidi.
Firdaus pleaded for leniency as first-offender Ryzal was willing to plead guilty to save the court's time and costs, had also apologised for the content and was remorseful.
The prosecution suggested the court order a fine as a reminder that public interests should take precedence.
Ryzal paid the fine.