LANGKAWI: An American man was sentenced to three months in prison and fined RM22,000 by the Sessions Court here today for possessing child pornographic material and overstaying in the country in February.
The accused, David Matthew Frahm, 46, would face an additional 12 months in prison if he failed to pay the fine.
Judge Helmi Ghani delivered the sentence after the accused pleaded guilty to the three charges against him.
The prison sentence for the possession of child pornography offence is effective from the date of his arrest on Feb 15.
According to the charges, the man was found in possession of child pornography and obscene videos on a laptop at a residence in Chogm Villa, Jalan Seri Legenda, at 7.10pm on February 15.
The charge was framed under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 292(a) of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the accused could face up to five years in prison, a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or both.
For the third charge, the accused also pleaded guilty to overstaying in the country for 1,380 days.
The offense violated Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and is punishable under Section 15(4) of the same Act.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Farhan Aliff Ahmad prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyers Cheow Wee and Alvin Lau.
Frahm paid the fine.