COVID-19: Zed Zaidi and 3 others charged for fear-mongering on social media

Actor Zed Zaidi and three other individuals were charged at the Magistrate’s Court for posting content via Facebook and Twitter that could cause fear or alarm to the public regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. The four were charged under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code which carries a fine and/or a jail sentence of up to two years. 

Zed Zaidi, aged 40, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge after it was read out to him before Magistrate A. Akhiruddin@Boy Acho. The magistrate allowed him bail of RM5,000 and the court has set 11 March for remention.

It was alleged that Zed Zaidi had committed the offence via Twitter at 12:51pm on 27th January. The tweet was read by the MCMC at 10:30am on the 29th January and he was questioned by the commission for two hours on the 31st January.

Apart from the actor, Mohd Khairul Anuar Rosli, a company director, aged 30, also pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the same charge. He was alleged to have spread fake news on “Oh My Media” and was also allowed bail of RM5,000. The other two individuals, Mohd Afendy Mohd Said, aged 34, and businessman Syed Mohd Faiz Syed Nasir, aged 28, pleaded guilty to the charge. Both have admitted to having committed the offence and Magistrate A. Akhiruddin has set 17th March for sentencing.

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