KUALA LUMPUR: A housewife was fined RM2,000 in default of three months' jail by the Sessions Court here today for publishing an offensive post directed at Prophet Muhammad on her Facebook page in February, last year.
Fadilah Hamid, 43, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence before changing her plea to guilty on the first day of the trial today, was sentenced by judge M. M. Edwin Paramjothy.
Fadilah was charged with knowingly making and initiating the sending of an offensive post using the Facebook account 'Fadhilah Abdulhamid' with the intention of insulting others. Her post was read at Apartment Seri Ceria, Jalan Jalil Indah Pinggiran Bukit Jalil, Cheras here, at about 9.14am on Feb 19, last year.
The charge, filed under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same Act, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, upon conviction.
Counsel Nurul Fitriza Abd Latif - who appeared for Fadilah - applied for a bond of good behaviour or a minimum fine on the grounds that her client suffers from depression and autism spectrum disorder.
"My client... receives treatment at Kajang Hospital. She undergoes extreme sadness, difficulty sleeping and likes to isolate herself. She also receives follow-up treatments at the Psychiatric Clinic at Kajang Hospital as an outpatient," said Nurul Fitriza.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Syahieza Md Hadzaid, who prosecuted, said taking into account the medical report from Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Fadilah was found healthy to undergo trial - and had consciously made the posting. Therefore, the punishment of a good behaviour bond is not adequate," she said. - Bernama