Danish national to be first person charged under Malaysia’s Anti-Fake News Act
Suspect reportedly claimed he was with a Palenstinian lecturer gunned down last month and that he made ‘countless’ calls to police who only showed up 50 minutes later
By Jessica Lin
The first person charged under Malaysia’s new Anti-Fake News Act has been reported to be a 46-year-old Dane national of Yemeni descent.
According to The Sun Daily, the man was arrested on after he “allegedly made false and damning claims” in relation to the murder of a Palestinian lecturer in Kuala Lumpur on April 21.
He faces charges of creating and publishing false news under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Fake News Act. If found guilty, he could be fined RM50,000 (US$12,757), or jailed up to six years, or both.
The report said that the man, who is jobless, is alleged to have posted a video online, claiming that he was with Dr Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh during the fatal shooting on April 21.
He is accused of saying he made “countless calls to the police” who he claimed only arrived 50 minutes later. He also allegedly claimed that an ambulance arrived only an hour later.
