KUALA LUMPUR: A blogger was today acquitted without his defence being called for a charge of transmitting offensive communications against then prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Umno via TikTok last year.
Sessions court judge N Priscilla Hemamalini said the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Jufazli Shi Ahmad, 34.
Jufazli was charged with creating and initiating the transmission of allegedly offensive communications by uploading a video via TikTok@King Maker at 3pm on June 23.
The charge, framed under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same law, provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both, upon conviction.
Lawyers Ramesh NP Chandran, Tejal Harash and Mansheel Kaur appeared for Jufazli while deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal represented the prosecution.