The High Court upheld the acquittal of blogger Jufazli Shi Ahmad on two charges related to posting offensive communications on YouTube targeting former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and UMNO, and for failing to provide his YouTube account password to police. The ruling was delivered on August 10, 2026, by Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin, who dismissed the prosecution's appeal against the Sessions Court decision [1, 2, 3].
The charges originated from videos posted on June 27, 2022, on Jufazli's 'King Maker Politik' YouTube account. Police accessed a link to the video on July 1, and by July 5, Jufazli was charged with failing to provide his password to the police during their investigation at Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters [1, 2, 3].
Jufazli was accused under Sections 233(1)(a), 233(3), and 249 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. These sections provide penalties for offensive communications, including a maximum fine of RM50,000, up to one year in jail, and a daily fine of RM1,000 for continuing offences. The failure to provide a password carries a maximum RM100,000 fine and up to two years’ imprisonment [1, 2, 3].
The Sessions Court had acquitted Jufazli on October 18, 2024, ending the prosecution’s case. The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry, appealed the acquittal. Jufazli was defended by lawyer Ramesh N.P. Chandran [1, 2, 3].
Judge Aslam Zainuddin said, "After reading the appeal record, the grounds of judgment of the Sessions Court judge and the submissions of both parties, this court dismisses the appellant’s appeal and upholds the decision of the Sessions Court judge to discharge and acquit the appellant" [2].
The High Court ruling finalizes Jufazli’s acquittal on the charges stemming from the controversial YouTube videos and his refusal to share his account password with police during their investigation.
