KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court here today discharged and acquitted Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam on the charge of spreading false news about the Covid-19 virus through audiovisual recordings two years ago.
Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini made the decision after concluding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Lokman, 50, at the end of the prosecution’s case.
“Accordingly, the accused is acquitted and discharged,” she said.
On October 1, 2021, Lokman pleaded not guilty to a charge of spreading false news through an audiovisual recording about the spread of the Covid-19 virus due to the entry of Indian nationals into Malaysia
The information that was disseminated through Facebook under the profile name “Lokman Adam” with the intention of causing public uneasiness was allegedly carried out at 10.55pm on May 3, 2021.
The recording was then viewed at the office of the Cyber and Multimedia Crime Investigation Division, Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Bukit Aman police headquarters, 27th floor, Menara KPJ, here at 4.40pm on May 9, 2021.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021, which provides a maximum fine of RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to three years or both if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh prosecuted, while Lokman was represented by lawyer Logen Eskander.
On June 23, this year, Lokman was acquitted and discharged by the sessions court for spreading false news on his Facebook page regarding the death of a police officer due to vaccination in 2021. – November 7, 2023