Activist and graphic designer Fahmi Reza Zarin is well known for his provocative and satirical pieces on various political parties, politicians and so on.
In fact, he has gotten into trouble several times because of it.
However, recently, he was discharged by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court after being accused of allegedly obscene posting on social media about a ban on liquor sales.
According to BERNAMA, Judge Nor Hasniah Ab Razak said the charges were “flawed and unfounded” and that she granted Fahmi a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
He was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or up to a year’s jail or both, with a further fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.
Fahmi had pleaded not guilty to knowingly making and initiating the transmission of an obscene posting on Facebook about a liquor ban on June 1 last year.
The artwork in question was of the logo of PAS on a can along with a can of Carlsberg alongside it.
Fahmi Reza himself took to Twitter to share the news. In his tweet he wrote, “Fahmi 1 – 0 PAS. Back in February I went to court after being accused of breaking the heart of PAS with this satirical poster.”
“Today, the judge said that the accusation is ungrounded, flawed and has dropped the case! The security deposit has been returned. #SatireIsNotACrime.”
What do you think of the court’s decision?
