A 23-year-old youth was fined RM7,000 or four months’ jail by the Sessions Court in Klang today for spreading malicious news via Facebook last August.

Muhammad Nur Hafiz Palpha, an Internet installation company employee, pleaded guilty before Judge Surita Budin to committing the offence through his Facebook account ‘Ringgo Pandan’.

He had posted the following: “ Malam tadi India potong 6 orang Melayu Tabligh kat Pandamaran Klang balik dari tahfiz umur mangsa lima tahun hingga belasan tahun. Sila panjangkan.. .”

The statement is loosely translated as: “Last night, Indians cut up six Malay ‘Tabligh’ near Pandamaran, Klang while they were returning from religious class, victims were aged between five and teens. Please forward...”

According to the facts presented by deputy public prosecutor Rosidah Abu Bakar, a policeman based at the Pandamaran police station noticed the malicious posting at 8.15am on Aug 1.

The policeman lodged a report after verifying that the statement was uncorroborated, and investigations conducted by the Royal Malaysian Police’s Cyber Unit led to Muhammad Nur Hafiz’s mobile phone registration number and location.

He was arrested at No 7, Lorong D10, Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7.

- Bernama