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Teacher Posting Fake Vaccine News Gets Country’s First Fake News Ordinance Charge

Teacher Posting Fake Vaccine News Gets Country’s First Fake News Ordinance Charge

The post was said to have been made on 21 April in a police station.

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A 50-year-old tuition teacher, Mohd Nazaruddin Yusoff, is believed to be one of the first person to be charged under the ‘Fake News’ law of the Emergency Ordinance since it was put into effect in March 11.

Nazaruddin pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru. He is said to have made a post on Facebook titled “Mati lagi… di Pontian, vaksin kedua” or “Second vaccine, Another death… in Pontian”, reported Free Malaysia Today.

The post included a photo of three police officers attending to another police office while a police woman was seen standing beside them.

After a post-mortem, it was reported that the policeman died of a heart attack

Nazaruddin was said to have made the post around 1.50am, on 21 April at the Pontian district police headquarters.

The Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021 describes  “fake news” as news or information that “is or are wholly or partly false relating to Covid-19 or the proclamation of emergency”.

Those who create, publish or distribute fake news will face a fine of up to RM100,000, a jail term of up to three years or both.

Nazaruddin was released after posting RM8,000 in bail and is required to be back in court on July 7 for the next mention, reported Malay Mail.

The case was handled by Johor State Director of Prosecution, Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman, while the accused was not represented by counsel.

READ MORE: Authorities Are Cracking Down Hard On Covid-19 SOP Rule Breakers & Fake News


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