Zaid Ibrahim charged with making offensive statement

Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was today charged with making an offensive statement while calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He allegedly used the internet's application services to voluntarily make the offensive statement with the headline, 'Rally Behind Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad' at http://www.zaid.my.

He is accused of committing the offence at the Classified Crimes Investigation Unit in Bukit Aman here at 3.20 pm on Sept 3.

On Sept 2, Zaid, 64, who is also Parti Kesejahteraan Insan (KITA) former president allegedly gave a speech at the Royal Selangor Club, Petaling Jaya and uploaded it in his blog the following day.

The charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act, carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or up to one year's jail, or both, upon conviction.

Sessions Court judge Datuk Jagjit Singh Bant Singh did not set any bail and fixed Jan 22 for case management.

Earlier, counsel M. Puravalen also told the court that the defence would file a preliminary objection.

"Which word in the statement is said to be offensive?" he argued.

The court also set Jan 22 to hear the preliminary objection.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin appeared for the prosecution.