KUALA LUMPUR: A foreign currency trader paid dearly for posting derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Najib Razak on his Facebook last year.
Mohd Nasaruddin Sairon, who hails from a Felda settlement in Kota Tinggi, Johor, was jailed a day and fined RM4,000 by a Sessions Court after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The 41-year-old, who was unrepresented, committed the offence when he posted an emotionally charged remark about Najib on Facebook on Oct 8.
The posting on Nasaruddin’s Facebook page was read by a member of the public, Khalijah Mohamed, who filed a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) the following day.
Those who flout the law for posting hurtful remarks about another person in cyberspace could be fined up to RM50,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.
Government lawyer Mohd Sophian Zakaria said the offence was serious and that the misuse of social media was a common trend these days.
“It is inappropriate to use disparaging remarks against the head of government,” he added.
He pressed for a deterrent sentence to serve as a warning to other would-be offenders.
Nasaruddin, in mitigation, pleaded with judge Zaman Mohd Noor for a light sentence to be imposed since he was a first offender.
Zaman then sentenced the accused to a day’s jail and fined him RM4,000 or two month’s jail in lieu.
Nasaruddin paid the fine and said he would remain in the courtroom until 4pm to fulfil the one-day jail term.