KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with the police arrested an individual suspected of spreading false news about the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
MCMC in a statement said the 34-year-old suspect was arrested at his home in Bangi at 4pm yesterday to facilitate investigation over a Facebook status posted on Jan 26.
“The uploaded content on coronavirus outbreak was found to be fake. We also confiscated the suspect's mobile phone and sim card used to upload the content.
“The suspect is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term of not more than one year, or both.”
MCMC and the police are now tracking three more suspects to facilitate investigation.
On Jan 27, New Straits Times reported that four individuals have landed themselves on the police and the MCMC’s radar for disseminating false information on the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
Read the story here.