SEREMBAN: An e-hailing driver, who posted an offensive statement about a mosque on Facebook, had to resort to help from a friend after he was fined RM4,000 by the Magistrate’s Court.
P. Mahendra Boopathy (pic), 53, pleaded guilty to a charge of making a provocative statement which could threaten public order.
Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli also ordered that he serve seven months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
He paid up, saying he had to seek a friend for the cash.
Mahendra, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a minimum fine as he had no income after his car was involved in an accident.
He said he also had to look after his sick father.
“I would like to apologise to the Muslim community for making the statement,” he said.
He had been charged with uploading a video on his Facebook account, questioning the land status of a mosque along Jalan Rasah near here.
The offence was allegedly committed at around 12.30pm on Feb 27 at the Masjid Jamek Dato’ Bandar Hj Ahmad in Kg Dato Mansor along Jalan Rasah.
He was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report with the intent to cause, or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public.
Offenders can be jailed up to two years or fined or both, upon conviction.
State prosecution director Ku Hayati Ku Haron asked for a stern punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Such actions can jeopardise racial harmony and public order,” she said.
