Retired HM fined RM10,000 for menacing Facebook post targeting forensic pathologist

A RETIRED headmaster who issued a threatening remark on Facebook against forensic pathologist Jessie Hiu has been fined RM10,000, with a two-month jail term in default, by the Sessions Court in Kota Kinabalu.

Judge Marlina Ibrahim delivered the sentence after 61-year-old Kamul Kamarudin reversed his earlier stance and pleaded guilty.

He admitted he posted the comment with the intention of causing annoyance and that Hiu had read it on 5 September at about 4.15pm at her home in Taman Luyang.

The case was brought under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which penalises the improper use of network services to transmit offensive or menacing content.

The provision carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 or up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, along with an additional RM5,000 fine for each day the offence continues after conviction.

The facts of the case show that Hiu, attached to the Forensic Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, had testified on 3 and 4 September as the first witness in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

On 5 September, Sabah State Health Director William Gotulis noticed a troubling comment beneath a Facebook video featuring Hiu.

Alarmed by its tone, he took a screenshot and forwarded it to her via WhatsApp. Hiu, recognising that the remark appeared directly under footage showing her face, felt it was plainly directed at her.

The comment left her feeling unsafe and significantly affected her daily movements. She filed a police report the same day.

Kamul was arrested on 7 September, and police seized a white Redmi Note 11 Pro from him. The device was logged into a Facebook account under the name “Amung Kamaruddin”.

Telco records linked the phone number to Kamul, and the account contained photographs confirming his identity.

Deputy public prosecutors Lovely Natasha Charles and Eugenie Meredith Gilbert acted for the state, while Rizwandean Borhan and Elhanan James represented Kamul.

He had first pleaded guilty on 11 September, but abruptly changed his plea to not guilty after hearing the penal provision read out in court. He was granted RM20,000 bail with two local sureties while awaiting trial.

His decision today to plead guilty once again resulted in the RM10,000 fine imposed by the court. - December 12, 2025