The artist thanks donors who contributed towards the fine he was given after being found guilty of breaching the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Facebook pic.
PETALING JAYA: Artist Fahmi Reza says he is “speechless” at having raised RM30,000 in such a short time through crowdfunding to pay the fine imposed on him following a recent conviction.
In a Facebook posting today, the activist said the effort to raise the money with the help of the Pozible crowdfunding website was fulfilled at 2pm, just 18 hours after it was launched.
He said a total of RM32,724 was raised, including RM22,095 through Pozible and RM10,629 through direct bank deposits into his account.
“I did not expect that the target could be achieved so fast. I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say except thank you,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Ipoh Sessions Court found the artist guilty under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for his satirical poster depicting Prime Minister Najib Razak with a clown face.
He was found culpable of spreading online content deemed “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person”.
He was sentenced to a month’s jail and a fine of RM30,000.
Following the conviction, his lawyer Syahredzan Johan had said the judge did not give any grounds for the ruling, adding that they would appeal the decision.
A bond of RM10,000 was posted to release Fahmi from custody pending the appeal, but as required by the court, the fine had to be paid first. If successful in his appeal, the money will be refunded.
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