Big Blue Taxi founder charged with making offensive remarks

A businessman, Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today on two counts of making and spreading offensive remarks through his Facebook over the prosecution of cases for defying the Movement Control Order (MCO).

The 54-year-old businessman made the plea before judge Mahyon Talib.

On the first count, he was charged with improper use of the network facilities by knowingly uploading a video and initiating the transmission of offensive communications with an intent to annoy the feeling of others through his Facebook, with the profile name "Shamsubahrin Ismail" at 8.54 pm last April 20.

The link was read at the Cyber Crimes and Multimedia Investigations Division Office of the Commercial Crime Investigations Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters here, at 11 pm on the same day.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, or up to a years' jail, or both, if convicted.

On the second count, Shamsubahrin, the founder of the Big Blue Taxi Service, was charged under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code with making statements conducing to public mischief through his Facebook with intent to cause, or likely to cause fear or alarm to the public at the same time and date.

He faced an imprisonment for up to two years, with fine, or both, if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Syamimi Farhana Muhammad A. Aziz, who prosecuted, requested bail at RM20,000 in one surety for the first charge and RM6,000 in one surety for the second count.

Lawyer Mohd Haijan Omar, representing Shamsubahrin, requested for a lower bail, saying that his client had stage four cancer and was the sole breadwinner of the family.

Following which, the court set RM8,000 with one surety for the first change and RM6,000 with one surety for the second count.

The court set June 10 for mention.

-- BERNAMA