KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — The High Court here today upheld the acquittal of blogger Jufazli Shi Ahmad on two charges of posting offensive communications against former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and UMNO on YouTube and failing to provide police with the password to the account four years ago.

Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin upheld the Sessions Court’s decision after dismissing the prosecution’s appeal against Jufazli’s acquittal on October 18, 2024, at the end of the prosecution’s case.

“After reading the appeal record, the grounds of judgment of the Sessions Court judge and the submissions of both parties, this court dismisses the appellant’s appeal and upholds the decision of the Sessions Court judge to discharge and acquit the appellant,” Aslam said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry appeared for the prosecution, while Jufazli was represented by lawyer Ramesh N.P. Chandran.

Jufazli was charged with creating and initiating the transmission of an offensive communication in the form of a video with intent to annoy another person through his ‘King Maker Politik’ account on YouTube at 3pm on June 27, 2022.

The link to the offensive video was accessed at 3pm at the Criminal Investigation Division office of the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters (IPD) on July 1, 2022.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, upon conviction, and a further fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.

Jufazli was also charged with failing to provide the password to his ‘King Maker Politik’ YouTube account, which was stored on his mobile phone, to a police officer at the Dang Wangi IPD at 12.10pm on July 5 the same year.

The charge was framed under Section 249 of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction. — Bernama