Posting Content Insulting the Monarch on Social Media: Mother of 5 Pleads Guilty, Fined 4,000

A seamstress assistant with 5 children admitted to posting content insulting the national monarch on social media and was fined 4,000 Ringgit by the court.

The accused, 53-year-old Norli Mohamad Yusof, bowed her head and pleaded guilty when facing charges today at the sessions court. Judge Dato' Ahmad Kamal ordered that if the fine is not paid, a jail term of 6 months will replace it; the accused chose to settle the matter with the fine.

According to the charge, the accused on December 11 last year at 2 PM used the Facebook account Nori Norli in Johor Bahru to post the said content.

By doing so, she violated Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15) (attempting or conspiring to perform any act with a seditious tendency) and can be punished under the same section of the Act.

If found guilty, she faces a fine not exceeding 5,000 Ringgit, or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years, or both; if repeated, imprisonment can extend to 5 years.

The prosecution was led by Abdul Ghaffar and Lydia Sarere deputy public prosecutors, while the defense counsel for the accused was K. Bharati and P. Rajagunaselan.

According to the case facts, a reporter saw a photo on a Facebook account showing the national monarch Sultan Ibrahim, Johor's Regent Tunku Ismail, and Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar having lunch at a famous Assam Pedas fish restaurant.

The reporter found that the accused's Facebook account posted a comment containing seditious remarks insulting the national monarch and subsequently went to the Sri Alam police station to file a report.

Further investigation by the Communications and Multimedia Commission found that the registered phone number for the Facebook account "Nori Norli" belonged to the accused's daughter.