Sabah politician charged with allegedly insulting Islam on Facebook

KOTA KINABALU: A local opposition politician David Orok has claimed trial after being charged with sedition at the Sessions Court here on Wednesday.

Orok who was produced before judge Ummu Kalthom Abd Samad was accused of posting a statement insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page two months ago.

Orok, a State Reform Party member who contested the Sulaman state seat in the recent general election was charged under Section 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948 that provided for a fine of up to RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of three years.

He was accused of committing the offence between noon and 1.50pm on July 4 this year at an unnumbered house in Kg. Roun, Jalan Labuaya, Topokon in Tuaran.

Ummu Kalthom subsequently allowed Orok, who was unrepresented, to be released on a RM7,000 bail but ordered that he surrender his international passport.

Orok was also ordered to report to the Tuaran police station once a week until his trial, the date of which has yet to be fixed.

Senior Federal Counsel Jamil Aripin told the court that they would be calling 26 witnesses.