KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno veteran Datuk Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin was today charged with uploading offensive posts on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines on his Facebook account four years ago.
The 72-year-old, as the summoned person, claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Sessions Court Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
The charge sheet read that Abd Zarin, as a blogger, had consciously made and initiated a posting which was offensive in nature and intended to offend others through Facebook under the name Zaharin Mohamad Yasin at 2.03am on Dec 21,2020.
The post was read at the Health Ministry at 3pm on Dec 22 the same year.
The charge under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a jail term less than one year, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal urged the court to set RM10,000 bail with one surety.
She also asked that Abd Zarin to refrain from making any posts until the disposal of the case.
Abd Zarin's counsel Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Samat pleaded for a lower bail as his client was a retired private company employee and suffers from several illnesses.
"He has four children and one of them is still a university student.
"His wife is a housewife and she will be his bailor. She will be using their savings to post bail," he said.
Judge Priscilla set bail at RM7,000 with one surety.
She set Feb 26 for mention.