KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has upheld the acquittal of blogger Jufazli Shi Ahmad, who remains free of two charges of offensive communications against former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Umno on YouTube and failing to provide police with the password to his account.
Justice Aslam Zainuddin dismissed the prosecution’s appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision to acquit the blogger without calling him to enter his defence.
“After reading the appeal record, the grounds of judgment of the Sessions Court judge and the submissions of both parties, this court dismisses the appellant’s appeal and upholds the decision of the Sessions Court judge to discharge and acquit the appellant,” Justice Aslam said yesterday.
Jufazli was charged with creating and initiating the transmission of an offensive communication in the form of a video with intent to annoy another person through his “King Maker Politik” account on YouTube at 3pm on June 27, 2022.
The link to the offensive video was accessed at the Criminal Investigation Division office of the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 3pm on July 1, 2022.
Jufazli was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, if convicted, and a further fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.
He was also charged with failing to provide the password to his YouTube account, which was stored on his mobile phone, to a police officer at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 12.10pm on July 5, 2022.
The charge was framed under Section 249 of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
On Oct 18, 2024, the Sessions Court acquitted and discharged Jufazli on both charges without calling for his defence.
