Teenager jailed for insulting Malaysian royal family on Facebook
Nineteen-year-old labourer pleads guilty to breaching country's strict multimedia laws
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Your support makes all the difference.A Malaysian teenager has been jailed for posting derogatory comments about his state’s royal family on Facebook - days after the crown prince asked police to stop arresting people who insult him online.
Muhammad Amirul Azwan Mohd Shakri, a 19-year-old building site worker from the southern state of Johor, made a series of insulting comments on the social network under the name ‘Miyo Castello’ between March and April.
Details of the alleged insults posted on the ‘TRW Troll Story’ comedy page have not yet been divulged and they were later removed.
Mr Shakri was handed a one-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 14 charges of wrongdoing under the country’s strict multimedia laws, according to the Straits Times.
Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 states that anyone who insults state royalty online can be jailed or face a £8,400 fine.
Mr Shakri was seen breaking down in tears in the courtroom as the judge read out his sentence, before being led away.
Thirteen sultans serve as ceremonial rulers of Malaysia’s individual states, and alternate every five years as king of the entire country.
Johor’s 31-year-old crown prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, is a popular with young people in the state and has a strong social media presence of his own.
Last month two men were arrested for allegedly insulting the prince on Facebook and Twitter, although it is uncertain whether they will face charges.
At the end of May, Tunku Ismail publicly asked police not to arrest anyone else making derogatory comments about him or his family.
He said during an interview posted on Facebook: “I would humbly share my opinion with the police not to arrest anyone making seditious remarks about me.
“Give them the privilege of saying what they want to say to my face, man to man.
"I can honestly say that I don't really care about what other people may say about me, as I am truly thankful with what God has given me in my life."
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