Rafizi fined after court finds him guilty of insulting UMNO members

Pandan Member of Parliament Rafizi Ramli has been found guilty of criminal defamation by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today.

Rafizi confirmed this matter through his Twitter page, stating that he was fined RM1,800.

This amount was a mere RM200 short of disqualifying him as a member of Parliament.

Mahkamah Sesyen menjatuhkan denda RM1,800 kerana bersalah menghina Umno (ha3). Sekarang menunggu bayar denda sebelum boleh dibebaskan
— Rafizi Ramli (@rafiziramli) January 26, 2016

According to a report in Malaysiakini, Judge Azwarnida Ariffin, when delivering her verdict, said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against Rafizi.

Rafizi was accused of intentionally insulting Umno members in an article published by The Edge Financial Daily in 2014 where he insinuated that Umno Selangor members were behind the incidents where molotov cocktails were thrown into compound of churches in Selangor.

The offence was allegedly committed at the office of The Edge Malaysia Communication Sdn Bhd, Menara KLK, Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara, at 11.40am on Feb 4, 2014.

The charge, under Section 504 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum imprisonment of two years or fine, or both upon conviction.