Three individuals, including two university students, were fined a total of RM11,000 by the Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to possessing same-sex pornographic images and videos on their mobile phones.
The accused include students Muhammad Al Azamuddin Al Fadzil, from Setiawan, Perak, and Mohamad Syahmi Firas Mohd Jurij, 27, from Bachok, Kelantan, were each fined RM4,000, while unemployed Mohd Hanafi Ibrahim, 47, from this district, was fined RM3,000.
The charges were made under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The court also ruled that failure to pay the fines would result in six months’ imprisonment.
The incident stemmed from a police raid on June 17 at a house in Jalan Kemumin, Kampung Pulau Belacang, Panchor. The raid was initially reported as targeting a “gay party,” but civil society groups later clarified it was actually an HIV medical outreach session organised by the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) in collaboration with the Kota Jembal Health Clinic.
Despite no evidence of sexual activity or promotional content being found, three men were arrested for possessing intimate content on their phones. Advocacy groups criticised the arrests as stigmatising and harmful, especially toward LGBTQ individuals seeking health services.
During the court proceedings, the defense lawyer Samantha Chong Yin Xin requested leniency, citing personal circumstances:
- Mohd Hanafi had undergone brain surgery in 2016 and is financially supported by his sister.
- Muhammad Al Azamuddin is a first-year university student.
- Mohamad Syahmi Firas is in his final year at a local institution.
All three were released after paying their fines.
Stay tuned for more updates.
