KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, was charged with making seditious remarks and defaming His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today.
However, he pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Sessions Court judge Siti Aminah Ghazali.
According to the charge, Wan Azri is accused of making seditious posts on his X account on April 29.
The offence falls under Paragraph 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum three years' imprisonment or RM5,000 fine, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat did not offer bail but asked for a high amount if the court exercises its discretion to grant it.
The prosecution also sought a restraining order against the accused to refrain Wan Azri from commenting on the case.
"The order is necessary as a precaution and to avoid provocation," he said.
Defence counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, however, pleaded for minimum bail by stating that his client needed to support his wife and five children.
He asked for RM10,000 bail which is a similar amount in the case of Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, who was charged under the same act.
The lawyer also objected to the gag order application.
The court set RM15,000 bail with one surety and fixed May 23 for mention, besides dismissing the gag order application.
On April 30, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had said Wan Azri was detained by members of the federal classified crimes investigation unit.
The statement was allegedly contained in a video clip lasting two minutes and 46 seconds where he questioned the King's decision to grant an audience to the founder of KK Mart stores over the issue of the socks which had the word "Allah" printed on them.
Wan Azri was also said to have claimed in the video clip that the ruler was the one who had given orders that Badrul Hisham be prosecuted under the Sedition Act for also questioning the granting of the audience.