Take note, WhatsApp users. Don’t simply forward or send false messages okay? The first ever case of false communication over WhatsApp just took place in court today where a teacher from Tawau, Sabah was charged with spreading false information through the app.
Source: Berita Harian
According to Sinar Harian, a 36-year-old staff member of the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) unit of the Semporna Kemas office was charged with sending false information to the social media group “Karpet KEMAS 189 Semporna” with intent to cause emotional hurt to others. Bet you didn’t know this could happen, eh!
Dressed in a brown baju kurung, Rafeah Buang @ Othman entered a plea of not guilty against the charge. The incident happened at 11.45am on Dec 11, 2014 when she allegedly sent a warning message saying,
“Be careful of a black Proton with the registration number SAAXXX6T as the driver of the vehicle is believed to be a rapist. Share it with your friends and family to keep them safe.”
Source: NST
The message was read at 1pm at the Semporna Hospital on the same day. The defaming message was obviously untrue because Buang was charged under section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and can be punished according to Section 233 (3) of the same Act.
If convicted, she can be fined for a maximum of RM50,000, jailed for up to a year, or both. A bail of RM2,500 was set for the accused with one surety while the case was set for remention on January 31, 2018. This is reportedly the first ever case for such an offense to happen in Malaysia.
Do some fact checking or get some hard evidence first before simply sharing or sending these type of messages, folks; otherwise you may land in hot water! But at least we have “unsend” now, right?
Also read: You Can Now ‘Unsend’ Your Messages in New WhatsApp Update
