Blogger Sang Kelembai charged with posting offensive social media content
DAWN CHAN
New Straits Times13 October 2017
KLANG: A blogger was charged at the Klang Sessions Court today with posting an offensive comment on social media last year.
Datuk Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin, who blogs as Sang Kelembai, was charged under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) with the offence, which was allegedly committed on Oct 8, 2016 at 8.49pm.
It is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act which carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a jail term less than one year, or both.
The 65-year-old, who is also the Umno Seri Labuan branch head, was alleged to have used a Facebook account under the name Zaharin Mohd Yasin and had consciously made and initiated a posting which is offensive in nature and intended to offend others.
The post was made on https://www.facebook.com/zahrinmohdyasin/posts/10207687about 9pm at 34, Jalan SP16, Taman Sri Putra in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
Zarin pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Sessions Court judge Tasnim Abu Bakar.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission prosecution department head Mohd Sophian Zakaria offered a bail of RM5,000.
However, Zarin's counsel Muhammad Fitri Abdullah Wahid had asked for the bail to be lowered as his client is unemployed and only earns a commission through his blog.
Tasnim then set a bail at RM4,000 with one surety.
She also ordered Zarin's passport to be surrendered until the case is concluded.
She fixed Nov 16 for case management.
Zarin paid the bail. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
