KiniTV, director fail to get charges dropped

Video portal, KiniTV and its director who are accused of publicising offensive remarks by former Batu Kawan UMNO division deputy chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan against Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali failed in their bid to drop the charges.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria told reporters when met that the Attorney General's Chambers had rejected the letter of representation submitted by KiniTV and its director, Steven Gan Diong Keng, 55, on Jan 18.

He said Sessions Court judge Zaman Mohd Noor fixed March 3 for mention.

KiniTV was charged on two counts of initiating the transmission of Khairuddin's comments through two videos in English and Malay with the intention to offend others.

The two videos were titled, 'Khairuddin: Apandi Ali Not Fit to be AG, He Should Quit Immediately,' and 'Khairuddin: Apandi Ali Tidak Layak Jadi AG, Wajar Segera Letak Jawatan.'

Both the videos were made accessible on http://www.kinitv.com/video/3670308 and http://www.kinitv.com/video/36708074 at 1.14pm and 1.34 pm, on July 27, 2016 and were viewed by the Attorney General's Chambers, Putrajaya, at 10am, Aug 2, 2016.

Gan, who was then KiniTV director was charged with similar offences and claimed trial.

He also represented KiniTV in pleading not guilty to the charges against it.

The charges were framed under Section 233(1)(a) and Section 244(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which respectively carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or up to one year imprisonment on conviction. - BERNAMA