Court postpones to July 4 to hear appeal by blogger's ex-girlfriend convicted of insulting Muslims

The High Court here today postponed to July 4 to hear an appeal by blogger Alvin Tan's ex-girlfriend, Vivian Lee, against her jail sentence which meted out by the Sessions Court for insulting the Muslims by making offensive postings on their Facebook.

Judge Datuk Nordin Hassan fixed the date in chambers in the presence of deputy public prosecutor Nabilah Ahmad Poad and Lee's lawyer, Chong Joo Tian.

Chong, when met by reporters, said the hearing of the appeal was set for today, but it had to be postponed pending the decision of a similar case at the Federal Court.

Lee, who was born Lee May Ling, 27, was also at the court today.

She was appealing against a decision by the Sessions Court here on May 27 last year in sentencing her to five months and 22 days' jail for the offence.

Judge Abdul Rashid Daud handed down the sentence on Lee after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the case against her, but allowed a stay of the sentence pending the woman''s appeal.

Lee and Tan were jointly charged with committing the offence by posting a picture of them with a caption "Selamat Berbuka Puasa (with Bak Kut Teh...fragrant, delicious and appetising) and the 'halal' logo" on their Facebook at 9 am on July 13, 2013.

The offence, under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, provides a fine of RM5,000, or three months imprisonment, or both, if found guilty. -- Bernama