Activist Lena Hendry fined RM10,000 over unapproved documentary screening

- Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A human rights activist has been fined RM10,000 Wednesday by the magistrate's court here for screening a Sri Lankan civil war documentary which had not been approved by the Censorship Board.

Magistrate Mohd Rehan Mohd Aris sentenced Lena Hendry, 32, after she was found guilty of screening the documentary.

He made the ruling after considering evidence from witnesses, submissions and mitigating factors by parties.

The magistrate ordered the fine to be paid by Wednesday.

Hendry, who was also the programme coordinator for Pusat Komas, a human rights group, claimed trial at magistrate's court on Sept 19, 2013 to illegally screening the documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka.

The film, directed by British national Callum Macrae, explores alleged oppression of Tamils by the Sri Lankan government.

She was said to have committed the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at Jalan Maharajalela here at 9pm on July 3, 2013.

The charge under Section 6(1)(b) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to RM30,000 or both if convicted.

DPP Nurakmal Farhan Aziz prosecuted the case.