A SENIOR citizen was fined RM15,000 in default of six months in prison by the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today for transmitting offensive communications, insulting Prophet Muhammad and Saidatina Aisyah on Facebook.

Judge M.M. Edwin Paramjothy imposed the fine on Wai Foo Sing, 69, after he admitted making an obscene graphic caricature posting depicting Prophet Muhammad and his wife, Aisyah.

“The accused’s obscene and offensive comments accompanied the relevant posting.

“It is undeniable that in the instant case, the accused’s inappropriate, offensive and obscene posting based on religion had transgressed the parameters of free speech guaranteed under our constitution.

“The crime of insulting religion is committed not only against the followers of the particular religion but also against the values and functions that the particular religion represents,” the judge said.

On January 20, Wai changed his plea to guilty under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for the offence, which he committed at 5pm on February 17, 2019, and was read at noon on February 18, 2019, at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division Office at Menara KPJ, Wangsa Maju.

Deputy public prosecutor Annur Atiqah Abdul Hadi represented the people, while Wai was represented by counsel Gabriel Susayan. – Bernama, February 10, 2020.