KUALA LUMPUR – 34-year-old Chiok Wai Loong has claimed trial after pleading not guilty this time to the charge of intentionally causing offence with a Facebook post on the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
He recorded his plea before sessions court judge Siti Aminah Ghazali this afternoon under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act on positing offensive content with the intention to annoy or harass others.
The judge also allowed him bail of RM5,000 with one surety, and ordered him to report himself at a police station every month and not to intimidate witnesses.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh requested a bail of RM15,000.
Meanwhile, Chiok’s lawyer Latheefa Koya asked for a lower amount of RM4,000 as her client is unemployed and stays with his parents.
The court fixed May 23 for mention.
This morning, the high court here dismissed the case as Chiok’s previous guilty plea was not recorded properly by the sessions court on March 22.
High court judge Datuk Ahmad Bache said: “The charge against him was so long, how do you (the prosecution and the court) expect a layman like him to understand?
“He was also not represented by lawyers that day. The applicant just said ‘faham’ (understood) and didn’t say that he admitted (that the offence was intentional).
“The accused wasn’t given an opportunity to clear his doubt in the sessions court. The charge must be explained and ensure the accused understands his offence.”
Ahmad then ruled that the case be brought to the sessions court again.
On March 22, Chiok pleaded guilty to putting up an offensive Facebook post over the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
Chiok was the second man to be charged for making offensive social media content over the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
The first was Sabahan Ricky Shane Cagampang, 33, who pleaded guilty in Kota Kinabalu in March.
He was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM15,000 in default of four months’ jail.
This came after a photo of the controversial socks surfaced on social media recently, with a claim that it was sold at a KK Mart outlet in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
Following this case, the founder and directors of KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd were charged in Shah Alam sessions court, for intentionally hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims by displaying the socks at one of its outlets.
Additionally, molotov cocktails were hurled at three KK Mart stores and the case remains under investigation. – April 18, 2024.