Ismawi Hadani will not be charged for inciting riot

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has decided not to press charges against Ismawi Hadani whose posting incited his Facebook account followers to overthrow the government.

He said the Attorney-General's Chambers had considered all factors surrounding this case and viewed seriously the offence committed.

"However, as a public prosecutor, I consider that Ismawi, in issuing the statement, has shown remorse and apologised to the general public," he said in a statement, on Monday.

Abdul Gani said he was satisfied that such an incitement tantamounted to an offence under the Penal Code as well as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The 25-year-old jobless Ismawi who owns a Facebook account under the name of Asmaelz Hadzeny and subsequently Asmaelz Hadzeny II was arrested last Dec 26 in Kampung Karambut, Saratok, Sarawak.

Ismawi was remanded for 10 days by Bukit Aman police for his "join the Himpunan Guling Kerajaan" call which allegedly incited people to riot.

Abdul Gani said police investigations revealed that Ismawi gained no support at all from his Facebook friends or followers, instead he was condemned and criticised for making such a call.

"It is further noted that he (Ismawi) did not pursue to defend himself and in fact relented once he received negative response from his followers," he said.

Last Saturday, Ismawi had apologised for his action, saying that he made the call on Facebook for people to riot without thinking (of the consequences).

The case was investigated for carrying out an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy.