KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, widely known as Papagomo, was fined RM4,000 by the Sessions Court today after being found guilty of publishing inflammatory content that incited hatred against Sultan Ibrahim.
Sessions Court Judge Norma Ismail handed down the sentence after ruling that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of the trial. The court also ordered a four-month jail term in default of payment and directed that the RM15,000 bail be returned to the accused.
Wan Muhammad Azri, 43, had previously pleaded not guilty on May 2, 2024, to publishing seditious content on his Twitter (X) account related to an issue involving the owner of KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd appearing before the Agong. The offence was allegedly committed at a condominium in Bukit Bintang on April 29, 2024.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum penalty of a RM5,000 fine, imprisonment of up to three years, or both upon conviction.
During mitigation, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sabri Othman urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, highlighting the accused’s background as a former policeman who should have been more aware of the legal implications of his actions. He stressed that the postings contained abusive language that insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and threatened public order.
Defence counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali appealed for a lighter sentence, citing his client’s responsibilities as a father of five, including caring for a child with autism. He also noted that Wan Muhammad Azri had cooperated fully throughout the trial and had no prior convictions for sedition-related offences.
The court proceedings followed an earlier ruling on Sept 24 last year, when the judge found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, leading to the defence being called. Seven prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, which began in October 2024.
Following the decision, Muhammad Rafique said the defence would file an appeal at the High Court in the near future.
–Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris
