Melaka: An insurance agent, Muhamad Akmal Helmi Mat Sirat, pleaded not guilty today in two separate courts to five charges related to offensive communication, criminal intimidation, and defamation against his ex-wife last month.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, at the Sessions Court, the 35-year-old was charged with three counts of posting offensive content on Facebook aimed at annoying and harassing his ex-wife, Masura Mustafa, 40. These incidents allegedly occurred on June 30, July 3, and July 4 at Taman Bukit Piatu Mutiara. The charges were brought under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which stipulates a penalty of up to RM50,000, a one-year jail term, or both, if convicted.

In a separate hearing at the Magistrate’s Court, Muhamad Akmal faced additional charges of stalking and intimidating Masura at Hospital Putra Melaka and a furniture shop on July 7 and 23, as well as posting a defamatory statement on Facebook on July 4. These charges fall under Sections 507A and 500 of the Penal Code. The penalties for these charges include a maximum of three years’ imprisonment or a fine (or both) for criminal intimidation and two years’ imprisonment or a fine (or both) for defamation.

Judge Haderiah Siri at the Sessions Court set bail at RM15,000 for the three charges related to offensive communication, with conditions that included no contact with prosecution witnesses and mandatory monthly reporting at a police station. In the Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Sharda Shienha Mohd Suleiman set bail at RM6,000 for the stalking and defamation charges, with similar conditions and weekly police station reporting.

Both courts have scheduled the case for mention on August 26. The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Wardah Ishhar and Syaza Nur Sharif, while the defense was represented by lawyer Haziq Aizuddin Subhi.