KUALA LUMPUR: A project manager has claimed trial to posting an offensive tweet calling the country's top cop a ruthless Nazi general.

Wong Hoi Cheng, 43, was charged with using Twitter account @wonghoicheng to tweet "bastardization of @PDRMsia. Thanks to the ruthless @KBAB51 Henrich Himmler of Malaysia", a statement meant to humiliate or incite the anger of Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and the Malaysian police force.

(@PDRMsia is the Royal Malaysian Police's twitter account, while @KBAB51 is IGP Khalid's account).

According to the charge sheet, the alleged actions could incite anger and disturb the peace, an offence under Section 504 of the Penal Code.

Wong was read an alternate charge under the Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for the same statements.

Wearing a baggy, dark blue suit, Wong appeared calm as he claimed trial to both charges.

Section 504 is punishable by up to two years prison and a fine, while Section 233 carries a maximum of one year’s jail and a fine.

The alleged offences occurred at the McDonalds in MidValley Megamall, here on August 31.

DPP Mohd Nordin Ismail urged the court to set bail at RM7,000.

Wong's counsel Arafas Abdul Razak plead for lower bail, saying his client had been compliant during the police investigation.

Arafas added that Wong was not a danger to society, and an active volunteer.

Judge Abdul Rashid Daud set bail at RM4,000 and fixed Oct 27 for next mention.

On Sept 1, @wonghoicheng had tweeted an apology, saying "Hello both @PDRMsia and @KBAB51, I am retracting the suggestion on the bastardization and apologise to you and all your members of the force."

However, @KBAB51 replied "Tiada Maaf lagi kpd sesiapa jua yg menyalahgunakan rangkai media utk menghina/mengutuk dan menghasut. Tunggu tindakan @PDRMsia".

(There is no forgiveness for anyone who misuses the media to insult and incite. Await action from @PDRMsia).

The @wonghoicheng account had since been deleted.

Arafas told The Star that while the prosecution had chosen to start criminal proceedings over the alledged statements, insults to individuals are more commonly addressed through defamation suits.

Henrich Himmler was a member the Nazi party who served as a general of Adolf Hitler in World War 2, and is best known for forming the extermination camps.

Resource : The Star Online