PETALING JAYA: A journalist today pleaded not guilty to three counts of making statements linked to the coronavirus, with the intention of creating fear among the public.
Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias, 40, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur with committing the offences on her “Ibu Yati” Facebook account on Jan 26.
If convicted, Hayati could be imprisoned up to two years, or fined, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal prosecuted, while Hayati was unrepresented.
Magistrate Tawfiq Affandy Chin set bail at RM4,000 for each charge, in one surety.
He also fixed March 11 for mention.
Last week, Bukit Aman CID director Huzir Mohamed said police were investigating a Facebook user known as “Ibu Yati”, who claimed that 1,000 people from China had arrived in Penang.
“Ibu Yati”, police said, had asked if a curfew would only be imposed if LGE (Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng) was infected.