JOHOR BARU: A tuition teacher was charged at the Sessions Court here today with spreading false news regarding the Covid-19 pandemic last April.
Mohd Nazaruddin Yusoff, 50, is one of two people in the country to be charged under the Emergency Ordinance.
He pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman.
Zaharuddin was accused of causing fear and concern among the public by spreading a publication containing false news.
He was alleged to have uploaded a picture that showed a policeman lying on the ground surrounded by other policemen with the caption 'Mati lagi...di Pontian, vaksin kedua' to his Facebook page, at the management division office of the Pontian police headquarters on April 21 at 11.50 am.
He was charged under Section 4(1) of the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) (No 2) 2021.
If convicted, he can be fined not more than RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to three years or both, and in the case of a continuing offence, the accused can be further fined not more than RM1,000 for each day the offence continues.
Johor Pposecution director Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.
The judge set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and fixed July 7 for case management and submission of documents.