A FACTORY operator was charged in the Shah Alam magistrate’s court today with insulting Prophet Muhammad on Facebook last week.

A. Taneson, 22, pleaded not guilty to the charge before magistrate Rini Triany Muhamad Ali.

He was charged with posting the allegedly insulting comments on a Facebook page going by the name Sarkar Tanesan, about 11.40am on February 19.

The charge was made  under Section 298 A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will on grounds of religion among the people of different religions in the country. He can be jailed for up to five years if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari, did not offer bail as the offence was non bailable.

Taneson’s lawyer, Kailashii Vasudevan Appu, requested bail on grounds that his client had mental problems and for him to be sent to hospital for observation.

Rini Triany set bail at RM8,000 in one surety and ordered Taneson to report himself at the nearest police station every two weeks.

The court set April 5 for mention. – Bernama, February 26, 2019.