World · Malaysia Bureau
Court Delays Ruling on Blogger's Contempt of Court Appeal
A Malaysian court has postponed its decision on a blogger's appeal against a contempt of court conviction. The case hinges on whether the defendant has satisfied a court order to issue a sincere public apology.
LSN Malaysia ·
The court deferred its judgment after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution regarding the blogger's compliance with a previous judicial directive. The defendant claimed to have fulfilled the requirement to apologize, contending that the apology issued satisfied the court's earlier order.
However, prosecutors representing the former Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission disputed this assertion. The prosecution argued that the apology was not genuine and lacked sincerity, falling short of what the court had mandated. They maintained that the original 30-day custodial sentence should remain in force.
The blogger faced contempt of court charges stemming from earlier online statements deemed to violate court orders. The case reflects ongoing tensions between digital expression and judicial authority in Malaysia, where courts have increasingly addressed issues of online contempt.
The bench did not announce a timeline for when it would deliver its decision on the appeal. Both parties have been directed to await further notification from the court regarding the scheduled judgment date.