Hina kerabat diraja Terengganu, lelaki dipenjara 3 bulan

Azman Hakim Hassanuddin, a 35-year-old man from Terengganu, was sentenced to three months in prison by the Sessions Court in Sepang today. The court heard that he admitted to five charges of sending and initiating communication that amounted to insulting royal dignity, religion, ethnicity, and the institutions of the state, through the X application.

The judge, Hakim Ahmad Fuad Othman, emphasized that offenses affecting the royal institution, religion, and ethnic sensitivities must be taken seriously due to their potential to spread and cause widespread harm in society. He stressed the importance of respecting the principles of benevolence and good conduct, as well as loyalty to the King and the nation, as outlined in the Rukun Negara.

Fuad stated, "This means we are sensitive to our king. We respect our king. It means we protect our king and place him on a high pedestal. When you commit such acts, you lower the honor of the kings." He added that offenses related to 3R (religion, ethnicity, and the state institution) can also trigger chain reactions when insulting religion or a group can cause anger among the aggrieved, while insulting the state institution can lead to the perceived lower status and dignity of the institution.

Prior to this sentencing, the prosecution informed the court based on a report from Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta dated August 10, that the accused, who was also a mentally ill patient, was found fit to be presented to the court and defend himself. On June 24, the prosecution, through Deputy Public Prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab, requested that the man be sent to a psychiatric hospital for psychiatric examination and assessment to determine his eligibility for trial.

In the appeal, the accused requested the court to impose a fine instead of imprisonment, given his ongoing need for treatment, including daily medication. He argued that his mental state during the communication act in February was severe, causing him to sleep only for two to three hours a day. Regarding the offense, Azman was charged with sending and initiating insulting communication and threats via his X account @gmxn_ on February 19.

He was accused of sending insulting communication at 2:25 pm, 4:19 pm, 4:20 pm, and 4:29 pm with the intention to hurt others' feelings. For the second offense, he was charged with sending threatening communication at 3:46 pm with the intention to provoke someone. The charges were brought under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and could be punished under Section 233(2) of the same Act, with a maximum sentence of imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to RM500,000 or both, along with an additional fine of RM5,000 for each day's offense after conviction.