Malaysia. A senior citizen has been sentenced to jail for a month and fined RM3,000 by the Kuala Kubu Baru Magistrate’s Court after he pleaded guilty to misusing the King’s picture on a car he was driving.
P. Ramasamy, 66, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge under Section 4A(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954 for malicious intent after it was read out to him before Magistrate Siti Fatimah Talib on Monday (May 6).
She ordered Ramasamy to begin his jail term from the date of his arrest on May 4 and a further 10 months’ jail if he fails to pay the fine, Sinar Harian reported.
Two individuals were arrested after the car they were in sported a photo of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and a political party’s flags in Kuala Kubu Baru, where a by-election is taking place.
A police report was lodged on May 4 after a complainant spotted the car with the photos of His Majesty and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
An investigation paper was opened under the Election Offences Act 1954 and Sedition Act 1948.
Hulu Selangor police arrested two men on May 4 and seized the vehicle used. Both suspects are in their 60s.
One of the suspects had a prior criminal record for obstructing a lawful arrest. Hulu Selangor OCPD Supt Ahmad Faizal said the investigation paper was referred to the Selangor Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office and one of the suspects was recommended to be charged while the other was made a prosecution witness.