MELAKA: Four men claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a charge of allegedly uploading offensive and insulting Internet posting against Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam on their respective Twitter accounts last month.

       Ahmad Zaki Yamani Zainon, 45, Muhamad Ali Aswad Asngadu, 28, Mohd Hermy Rahim, 34, and Mohd Hafizuddin Rahmad, 36, claimed trial when the charges were read to them before Judge Maziah Joary Mohd Tajudin here yesterday.

       Based on the charge sheet, the four were accused of knowingly uploading the posts and shared insulting comments on Mohd Ali on their respective Twitter accounts on July 28, which were read around 1.07am at Ujong Pasir, Kampung Atap here on July 29.

       All the accused, whose occupations are an engineer, a businessman, salesman and supervisor, were charged under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and are punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or one year’s jail or both, upon conviction.

       The court later granted bail of RM5,000 for each of the accused and fixed Sept 22 for re-mention.