Malaysiakini fined RM500,000 for contempt

PUTRAJAYA: Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, the company which runs Malaysiakini, has been fined RM500,000 after it was found guilty of scandalising the judiciary in publishing readers’ comments last year.

The fine was more than the RM200,000 proposed by senior federal counsel Suzana Atan.

Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusof, who led a majority of six judges in finding the news portal guilty, said they took into account that the company ‘s management had extended an unconditional apology and cooperated with police.

However, she said, it was the duty of the court to consider the seriousness of the offence under the Malaysian justice system.

​“The comments had attracted local and global attention and allegations of corruption in the judiciary which were false,” she said , adding that the fine of RM500,000 is appropriate.

The company has been given three days from Monday to settle the penalty.