KUALA LUMPUR: Local actor Zul Ariffin pleaded guilty at the Sepang Sessions Court this morning for uploading drama series promotional video clips containing lewd actions on his social media page.
The 36-year-old actor pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him before Sessions Court judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar.
His charge was framed under Section 223 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for the offence of making and initiating the transmissions of communications, which are the discordant video clips, that carry a year in prison or a maximum RM50,000 fine, or both upon conviction.
Zul, clad in grey-blue suit, stood in the dock and appeared calm as he watched the court proceedings. He arrived at the courthouse around 7.30am, ahead of the proceeding which was scheduled to start at 9am.
Deputy public prosecutors Fazril Sani Mohamed Fadzil and Mai Zairani Zainal Abidin prosecuted, while Zul was represented by Saresh Mahendaren and Sivaram Prasad.
Saresh had pleaded for the court to impose a lenient sentence on Zul, as the accused was a first time offender and he pleaded guilty at the very first instance.
"The video was almost immediately removed after it was posted on March 18. He removed it on March 19. And he didn't justify or deny his action," he said.
This prompted Fazril to stand up and suggest for the court to order a sum of fine which would represent as fair punishment, as a lesson to others.
Judge Noorhisham then ordered Zul to pay a RM30,000 fine, or be jailed for nine months if he failed to pay.
It was understood that Zul paid the fine immediately after court proceedings ended.