Judge Norma Ismail ordered Wan Azri, also known as Papagomo, to serve four months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Sabri Othman urged the court to impose a custodial sentence, citing the seriousness of the offence.

Sabri submitted that the social media post contained abusive language, verbal insults and derogatory remarks, which could incite hatred against the Agong.

“A punishment which amounts to a pinprick will not deter the accused from repeating the offence,” he said.

Sabri added that the 44-year-old accused, a former policeman, was well-versed in the law and aware of the weight of his actions and but still chose to publish the seditious post.

In mitigation, defence counsel Rafique Rashid Ali submitted that this was Wan Azri’s first offence under the Sedition Act 1948, and asked the court to impose only a fine.

He added that similar cases involving high-profile individuals had resulted in fines.

Rafique also told the court that his client has five children, the youngest of whom has been diagnosed with autism and requires constant care.

He added that Wan Azri had cooperated throughout the trial and complied with a court order to report to a police station monthly.

Wan Azri was charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 in May 2024. The offence carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

He was accused of making the seditious statement in a post on X, under the account sir_azri, at a condominium in Bukit Bintang at 12pm on April 29.

In a video clip, Wan Azri had questioned the king’s decision to grant an audience to KK Mart owner Chai Kee Kan.

In the same video, he also claimed that the king had ordered Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, to be charged in court under the Sedition Act.

The prosecution called nine witnesses, while Wan Azri was the sole defence witness.