Freelance writer pleads not guilty to posting demeaning comments against igp, police on twitter

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KUALA LUMPUR: A freelance writer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to posting demeaning comments which raised the ire of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) through his Twitter account on Malaysia’s Independence Day (Aug 31), this year.

Wong Hoi Cheng, 43, entered the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Abdul Rashid Daud.

He is alleged to have deliberately posted the comments through his Twitter account http: //twitter.com./wonghoicheng to rouse anger and embarrass IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and the police force at a restaurant in Mid Valley, Brickfields, here at 2pm on Aug 31, this year.

Wong, a Malaysian People’s Party (PRM) member, was charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years or a fine, or both, if convicted.

He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of posting the offensive comments to Khalid through the same twitter account with the intent of annoying others.

For this, Wong was charged with committing the offence at the same place and time under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, punishable under sub-section 233 (3) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum of one year imprisonment, or both, if convicted. Abdul Rashid allowed bail of RM4,000 in one surety and fixed Oct 27 for mention.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail appeared for the prosecution while counsel Arafas Abdul Razak represented the accused. — Bernama