KUALA LUMPUR: A 70-year-old blogger was charged at the Sessions Court here with posting insulting remarks against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on his Facebook account five months ago.
Aspan Alias, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Judge M. M. Edwin Paramjothy today.
He was accused of using Facebook under the name "Aspan Alias" to send an insulting post directed at the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the intention to hurt others at about 2.47pm on May 16.
Aspan's post was read at 9am on May 18 at the office of Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division Office at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters, at the 27th floor of Menara KPJ in Wangsa Maju, here.
The offence falls under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail up to one year or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Najihah Farhana Che Awang asked the court to impose RM10,000 bail with one surety against the accused.
However, counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri who represented the accused pleaded for minimum bail stating that his client is now jobless.
"Bail is just to secure the attendance of my client during court hearing," he added.
The court set RM3,000 bail with one surety and fixed Dec 10 for mention.