KOTA KINABALU: A woman was fined a total of RM8,000, in default, 15 months' jail for making offensive remarks regarding the Pintasan Assemblyman and insulting his modesty on social media.
Luisa Luis, 24, pleaded guilty to two charges in two different courts today.
In the first case, the unemployed woman, was fined RM5,000, in default five months' jail for posting an offensive remark on Facebook on April 30.
The post was read by the victim Datuk Fairuz Renddan, 39, who is the Assistant Youth and Sports Minister.
Luisa pleaded guilty before Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to committing the offence under Subsection 233 (1) (a) of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998, punishable under Subsection 233 (3) of the same Act.
The indictment provides for a fine of up to RM50,000 or a jail term of up to one year or both upon conviction.
In the second case, Luisa was fined RM3,000, in default, 10 months' jail for insulting Fairuz's modesty.
She pleaded guilty before magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles for committing the offence via WhatsApp on April 6.
The offence under Section 509 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to five years or a fine or both upon conviction.
The court heard Fairuz had lodged a police report against Luisa over the insults as he felt worried, embarrassed and feared for his safety as Pintasan Assemblyman.
During mitigation, the unrepresented accused asked for leniency, saying that this was her first offence and promised not to commit a similar offence again.
In reply, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence against Luisa.
The prosecution also informed the court that Luisa had other related cases which will be mentioned on June 28 and July 5.