KUALA LUMPUR: A racial spat did not ensue following former sex bloggers Alvivi's "Bak Kut Teh" Hari Raya greeting photo, the Sessions Court heard today.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) enforcement and investigation officer Akmal Hamdy Baharudin, 32, told the court that after the photo of former lovers Tan Jye Yee or Alvin Tan and Lee May Ling or Vivian Lee was uploaded on their Facebook page, no racial disputes between Malaysians had arisen.
He was testifying as the 18th prosecution witness in the trial of the duo's sedition case.
In cross-examination by counsel Choong Joo Tian who represented Tan and Lee, Akmal agreed that the picture was not enough to incite racial controversy in Malaysia.
"After the photos were uploaded, the Malays and Chinese who commented were expressing anger to the Facebook user (Alvivi) and not at each other," he said.
Akmal who was the investigating officer of the case also told the court that Tan absconded and was now in the United States.
To a question by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, he said based on investigations conducted by MCMC, the accused was believed to have run away to the US.
"Several meetings were held with police to seek assistance from Interpol to issue a red notice to the accused," the witness testified while Lee was alone inside the dock.
MCMC investigations department assistant director Yuzani Muhammad Yusoff also testified for the case today before judge Abdul Rashid Daud.
Rashid then fixed Feb 24 for hearing to recall Malaysian Islamic Religious Development Department principal assistant director Dr Lokman Ab Rahman to question him further.
March 28 and 29 were fixed for submissions.
Meanwhile outside the court, Lee told reporters that she wanted the trial to be over.
Lee and Tan were charged under Section 4(1) (c) of the Sedition Act for uploading a photo of themselves on Facebook with the caption "Selamat Berbuka Puasa (with Bak Kut Teh… fragrant, delicious and appetising)” together with an image of the halal logo.
The duo were accused of committing the offence at 9am on July 12, 2013.
They were also facing a charge under sub-section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 for allegedly posting an obscene photograph on the same Facebook page between 9pm on July 6, 2013 and 2am on July 7, 2013.