Rafizi di denda RM1,800 kerana menghina ahli suci UMNO

ifanonline · Post time 27-1-2016 10:49 AM

Edited by ifanonline at 27-1-2016 10:51 AM

Tuesday, 26 January 2016 | MYT 7:33 PM
Rafizi fined RM1,800 after court finds him guilty of insulting Umno members

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli (pic) was Tuesday ordered by the Sessions Court to pay a fine of RM1,800 in default 10 months' jail, after he was found guilty of intentionally insulting and provoking anger among UMNO members through a statement two years ago.

Mohd Rafizi, 39, paid the fine.

Judge Azwarnida Afandi said the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Rightfully the accused should have given a statement based on the 'Langkah Kajang' only but he had gone way beyond and touched on UMNO sensitivities. The Court also described the statement as an after thought," Azwarnida said.

In handing down the sentence, Azwarnida said the court took into consideration Rafizi’s position as a member of parliament who was not supposed to utter statements which could raise public ire.

She said the accused should have been more responsible and sensitive to surrounding conditions before issuing any statement.

"However, the accused is lucky, as the statement did not raise tension among the public," she said.

According to the charge, Rafizi had intentionally insulted and raised anger among Umno members through a statement in an article titled 'Will Rafizi quit if Selangor is not toppled?' which could disrupt public peace.

Rafizi was alleged to have committed the offence at The Edge Malaysia Communication Sdn Bhd at Menara KLK, Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara, at 11.40 am on Feb 4, 2014.

He was charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of two years jail or a fine or both, on conviction.

Earlier, defence counsel Eric Paulsen appealed to the court to impose a fine on the grounds that his client is a member of parliament and the statement had not caused any public disruption.

Eric said Rafizi had no intention of doing so and had no previous convictions.

Deputy public prosecutor Roslan Mat Noor opposed the appeal for a fine as the position of the accused was not an excuse for a lighter sentence. - Bernama