00:00Independent preacher Zamri Vinod was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates' Court
00:06over statements that allegedly sparked provocative debate over religious and racial issues.
00:12The charge relates to the organization of a rally in front of a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur in February.
00:20The 42-year-old Zamri Vinod, whose full name is Muhammad Zamri Vinod Kalimuthu,
00:27pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Magistrate Faizah Noor Hassan on Tuesday morning.
00:34The charge states that Zamri allegedly made a statement on his Facebook account, titled Zamri Vinod, on February 3rd.
00:42The statement was allegedly seen and heard by an individual at restaurant Nasi Kandar Kudu on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
00:50The prosecution contended that the statement could provoke public unrest
00:57He was charged under Section 505, Subsection B of the Penal Code
01:02and faces a maximum of two years' jail, a fine or both if convicted.
01:09Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohamed Nordin Ismail offered bail at 10,000 ringgit,
01:16stating that about 100 police reports had been lodged against the accused up until February 3rd.
01:23In response, defence lawyer Mohamed Hariz Mohamed Youssof requested a lower amount,
01:30stating that his client had appeared in court voluntarily.
01:34He also clarified that Zamri had not absconded to Thailand,
01:38but had travelled there from March 9th to 12th to arrange a marriage solemnisation.
01:44Magistrate Faizah Noor allowed bail at 4,500 ringgit and fixed April 29th for mention.
01:51Magistrate Faizah Osa
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