Activist Fahmi charged over post linked to beer ban issue

 

Graphic designer Fahmi Reza claimed trial today over a Facebook post linked to the 2020 beer ban issue.

Today’s fresh charge before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions (Cyber) Court came a week after he was earlier charged over an alleged obscene Twitter post that targeted a minister.

In relation to this morning’s open-court proceedings before judge M Edwin Paramjothy, the outspoken street artist was alleged to have uploaded the posting to his Facebook account at 11.45am on June 1, last year.

The post in question showed a picture of two green beer cans held by two hands, with a “Carlsberg” text on one can and the other with what appeared to be the PAS logo.

The post is believed to be linked to the issue of several then PAS ministers in 2020 voicing support for restrictions on alcohol sales beyond Kuala Lumpur.

Then in June last year, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry clarified there would not be a total ban on liquor sales during the then total lockdown period in Malaysia.

Framed under Section 233(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, today’s charge against Fahmi is for the offence of improper use of network facilities to make an obscene posting with the intent to annoy another person.

If found guilty, he may be fined not exceeding RM50,000, jailed up to a year, or penalised with both penalties, per Section 233 (3) of the Act.

‘Not a flight risk’

During proceedings before Edwin this morning, deputy public prosecutor Najihah Farhana Che Awang applied for the court to set bail at RM10,000.

However, defence counsel Rajsurian Pillai pleaded for bail to be set around RM4,000 instead because his client (Fahmi) already posted a RM5,000 bail for a previous charge on Feb 10 (linked to alleged obscene posting against a minister).

The lawyer said that Fahmi is not a flight risk as he has always given full cooperation to the authorities during investigations and has never been arrested as part of the probe in today’s matter.

“The most important factor here is that he (Fahmi) is not a flight risk and would not disturb the prosecution witnesses or evidence.

“His (Fahmi) electronic device has already been seized by the police and sent to MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission),” Rajsurian said.

The judge granted RM3,000 bail with one surety and fixed March 30 for mention.

The outspoken activist on socio-political issues has had numerous run-ins with the authorities in the past.

Among them was over a 2016 clown caricature of then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

As recently as Jan 26 this year, Bernama reported that Fahmi was called to Bukit Aman to assist in investigations in connection with a social media post that allegedly depicted an edited image of the Pahang Coat of Arms with the words “House of Balak”. - Mkini