Ex-Terengganu MB's aide claims trial for SMS intimidation

NST Online » Frontpage
2009/06/04
Ex-Terengganu MB's aide claims trial for SMS intimidation
By : Ridzwan Fernandez and Sean Augustin
Email to friend Email to Friend Print article Print Article

KUALA TERENGGANU, Thurs:

Datuk Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohd Zubir, the political secretary to former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was charged today in the Sessions court with sending death threats through the short messaging system.
He was accused of sending the SMS texts to three Barisan Nasional assemblyman with the intention of slandering another senior State Government official.

Ahmad Ramzi faced three principal charges and three alternatives to sending an annonymous death threat via SMS to intimidate the three assemblymen - Mohd Ariffin Abdullah (Paka), Abd Halim Jusoh (Permasuri) and Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil).

The offences were allegedly committed between 11.21pm and 11.25pm on April 13.

Alternatively, he faced three charges of using an Internet application to send death threats via SMS to the three assemblymen concerned on the same date and time that contained the words "baik jgn teruskn niat YB, YB tak sayang nyawa? (don't go ahead with your plans YB, don't you value your life?)".
For the fourth charge, Ahmad Ramzi is accused of slandering Wan Ahamad Wan Muda, private secretary to Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, by misusing his (Wan Ahamad) handphone number to SMS death threats to three assemblymen via a website with the intention to slander him.

The offences were allegedly committed on between 11.21pm and 11.25pm on April 13

Alternatively, he is charged with using the same method on the same date and time to send an SMS that contained that contained the words "baik jgn teruskn niat YB, YB tak sayang nyawa? (don't go ahead with your plans YB, don't you value your life?" with the intention to slander him.

Ramzi, who is now the special officer to Idris, the current Mara chairman, claimed trial to all the charges.

Decked in a suit and accompanied by friends, he looked composed throughout the proceedings.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff posecuted, while Ramzi was represented by Rosli Abd Rahman.

Sessions judge Mohamad Khalid Ab Karim set bail at RM8,000 for both charges with one surety each, which later was posted.

He also ordered for Ahmad Ramzi's passport to be impounded and fixed re-mention of the case for July 19.

If convicted for the first three charges, Ramzi can be jailed up to two years, while he faces a maximum two-year jail term or a fine or both for the fourth.

It was reported that the three assemblymen lodged police reports shortly after receiving the SMS threats on April 14.

The three had claimed that the SMSes were sent by Wan Ahamad, who allegedly told them not to proceed with a rumoured plan to table a motion of no-confidence against the menteri besar at the state assembly sitting.

Police later absolved Wan Ahamad of any involvement. NST