Azwan Ali fined RM17k for uploading offensive Covid-19 video (updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Celebrity Azwan Ali was fined RM17,000 by a Sessions Court here with uploading an offensive post relating to Covid-19 on his YouTube channel.

The 54-year-old TV host pleaded guilty after the charge was read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi here on Friday (March 27).

According to the charge sheet, Azwan uploaded the offensive material on his YouTube channel, DivaAATersohor.

The video was viewed at the office of the Putrajaya Hospital’s deputy director on March 24.

On Tuesday (March 24), Putrajaya Hospital made a police report over two viral videos, one by Azwan, that it said damaged the image of the hospital and the credibility of its medical staff in the handling of Covid-19.

Hospital director Datuk Dr Nora’i Mohd Said said in a statement that the videos caused emotional distress to the frontliners who had to sacrifice their time with family in discharging their duties.

Azwan, who arrived to court in an all black ensemble, was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or one year jail or both.

He can also be fined RM1,000 for each subsequent day if the post is not removed after the conviction.

The court also ordered for Azwan serve six months in jail should he fail to pay the fine.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Radzi Shah Ab Razak prosecuted.