KANGAR: The Sessions Court here today sentenced a crab trader to six months in jail and a RM15,000 fine for insulting the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail in a Facebook posting in March.
Judge Musyiri Peet meted out the sentence after the accused, Hasbullah Mohammad, 41, from Changlun, Kedah, maintained his guilty plea when the charge was read to him once again during proceeding today.
The accused had initially claimed trial when he was charged in April but changed his plea to guilty when the case was called for mention on May 15.
According to the charge, Hasbullah had used the Facebook application under the username "Muhammad Muhammad (ku tehh ku muhamnad)" to upload the comment against the Raja of Perlis with the intention of hurting the feelings of others.
He had committed the offence on March 6, 2024, at 3.26am.
The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 (Act 588) and is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act.
The charge carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of not more than a year, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Izham Ali urged the court to impose a hefty punishment as the case involved royal institutions and was a matter of public interest.
In mitigation, lawyer Siti Hajar Che Ahmad from the National Legal Aid Foundation pleaded for leniency as the accused has schizophrenia.
She also informed the court that the accused is supporting a paralysed mother.
The court subsequently ruled that Hasbullah was guilty and ordered him to serve a six months' jail term from the date of his arrest and a RM15,000 fine.