Durian trader pleads not guilty over false Facebook post on alleged fuel shipment to Philippines

SEPANG, June 30 — A durian trader pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of uploading a false post regarding the alleged sale of 52 million litres of fuel to the Philippines via his Facebook account in April.

Nurhafizul Badrul Hisham, 34, as the defendant is charged with making and initiating a communication post with the intention of hurting the feelings of others on Facebook via the account “Nurhafizul Badrul Hisham” on April 12.

The post was later seen at Tower 1, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Cyberjaya at 6.48am, April 13.

The charge was brought under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and is punishable under Section 233(2) of the same act which carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 or two years’ imprisonment or both and a further fine of RM5,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.

MCMC prosecuting officer Mohd Farhan Kamarudin proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety for the father of two children.

Lawyer Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Md Nazir, representing Nurhafizul, applied for a low bail of RM5,000 because he only trades in durian with an irregular income in addition to supporting an unemployed wife.

“The accused has young children aged three and five and is taking care of his 96-year-old father who suffered a stroke and his 65-year-old mother,” he said.

Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman granted bail of RM7,000 with one surety and set August 5 for mention of the case.

Nurhafizul paid the bail money. — Bernama