A lorry driver was fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court here on Thursday after pleading guilty to sending obscene images and videos of his former wife to her husband via WhatsApp.
Judge Shahrul Rizal Majid imposed the fine on Mohd Suhaimi Yusof, 50, after he pleaded guilty to five charges.
The court also ordered him to serve two months in prison for each charge if he failed to pay the fine.
The five charges were read separately and involved the improper use of the WhatsApp application to send three obscene images and two obscene videos to a man with the intention of causing him distress.
The offences were committed on March 22, 2023, at a premises in Mantin, Seremban.
Mohd Suhaimi was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act.
A conviction under Section 233(3) carries a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant received several obscene images and videos from the accused, who was the former husband of the complainant’s wife.
The complainant said he was deeply upset and disturbed after receiving and viewing the material, which depicted his wife, before lodging a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Mohd Suhaimi, who was unrepresented, did not appeal for leniency and told the court he was prepared to accept a prison sentence if imposed.
He said he was currently working as a lorry driver and had four children, three of whom were still in school and were being cared for by his former wife.
He claimed he acted out of anger after being cheated.
Before passing sentence, Shahrul Rizal advised the accused to think carefully before taking any action.
“You are the one who has to bear the consequences. My advice is to think about the good and bad before acting,” he said.
The prosecution was conducted by MCMC Deputy Director/Prosecuting Officer Mohamad Farhan Kamarudin.
