Two days after being remanded, Tasyrif Tajuddin was produced in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today, where he claimed trial to allegedly posting offensive remarks on social networking site Facebook .

NONE Tasyrif, a film studies student with the government-owned Aswara National Academy of Arts and Heritage in Kuala Lumpur, was charged  with 'making threatening comments with the intent to cause harm'.

He was represented by counsel Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin, while DPP Amirah Mohamed Yusoff prosecuted.

Wearing a blue t-shirt, Tasyrif looked weary when he was first brought to court. This morning, judge Aslam Zainuddin allowed bail of RM6,000 with one surety.

His parents and college-mate were present to give support. An Aswara college official was also present.

azlan Last Friday, the charge against Tasyrif had been read before magistrate Koh Khuang Chin as Aslam was away on official duty. No plea was recorded then.

Prosecution had earlier offered bail to be set at RM10,000 with one surety. However, without the sitting judge, the decision on whether or not to grant bail was deferred to today.

In applying for bail to be reduced, Mohd Radzlan said Tasyrif was just a first year student and imposing a hefty bail would burden him.

He also said Tasyrif's father was an assistant administrator with a school who earns a monthly income of just RM1,600.

"Imposing a high amount would be taxing on the family and the student who still has a bright future ahead of him," he said, adding that no one had been physically hurt as a result of the posting.

Amirah submitted that the sum should be maintained, as the offence is punishable with a maximum fine of RM50,000.

Aslam then decided to reduce the amount to RM6,000, and fixed March 4 for mention for documents to be provided.

'First prosecution'

Tasyrif was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act which carries a maximum penalty of a year's jail and/or a fine.

He is the first to be prosecuted in relation to a spate of attacks on places of worship following a Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling that allows Catholic weekly magazine Herald to use the word 'Allah’ in its Malay version.

Deputy national police chief Ismail Omar told AFP that Tasyrif was the person who posted a comment that he was willing to attack the Batu Caves temple for payment, on the eve of Thaipusam on Jan 29.

azlan The posting was signed off by one Shahrul Maizam, who wrote on his friend’s Facebook page, including: Ke nak aku baling bom petrol di sana plak?...harga boleh runding ... (Do you want me to throw a petrol bomb there? ... the price is negotiable).

Police believe that the name was later switched to that of Tasyrif.

In a separate comment, Tasyrif said he was responsible for procuring the substance used in the homemade explosive with regard to the attacks on churches.

He also claimed that he was at the scene but was not involved when a petrol bomb was hurled at a particular church.

Since Jan 8, 11 churches nationwide, a Gurdwara, one mosque and a school were targets of arson attacks and vandalism.

The Metro Tabernacle AG Church in Desa Melawati, was the worst hit when its ground floor was completely destroyed in the attack.