A MAN, who previously claimed trial to two counts of insulting Prophet Muhammad, Islam and the PAS president on Facebook, has changed his plea to guilty.

Danny Antoni, 28, entered the new plea after the charges against him were read before judge M.M. Edwin Paramjothy during mention of the case at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.

The court then fixed July 17 for sentence hearing.

On the first count, Danny was charged with using the “Danny A’antonio Jr” Facebook account to post an insulting statement against the prophet and Islam at 1.21am on January 9.

The charge, under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code, provides for a maximum jail term of five years upon conviction.

Danny was also charged with committing the same offence against PAS’ Abdul Hadi Awang at the same place, date and time.

The charge, framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, punishable under Section 233(3) of the same act, provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, upon conviction.

Both Facebook posts were read at the Cybercrime and Multimedia Investigation Division of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters, about 10am on March 4.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Asyaraf Md Kamal urged for a severe sentence given the seriousness of the offence.

Counsel P. Rajsurian, representing Danny, appealed for a concurrent jail sentence from the date of his client’s arrest, and for the judge to take into consideration that Danny is his family’s sole breadwinner. – Bernama, June 13, 2019.