According to the facts of the case, the cinema manager saw Golod Artem take out his phone and began recording while the film ‘Now You See Me 3’ was being screened. (Instagram pic)
PETALING JAYA: A Russian man was fined RM10,000 by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today after he pleaded guilty to recording a film using his mobile phone at a cinema in a Bukit Jalil shopping mall.
Bernama reported that judge Izralizam Sanusi meted out the fine, in default 10 months’ imprisonment, on private university student Golod Artem, 21. He paid the fine.
Artem was charged with using his mobile phone to record part of the movie “Now You See Me 3” during a screening at the cinema at 2.30pm on Nov 13.
The offence falls under Section 43A(1) of the Copyright Act 1987, which carries a fine of RM10,000 to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
According to the facts of the case, the cinema manager saw the accused take out his phone and began recording while the film was being screened.
After monitoring the situation for about 45 minutes, the manager entered the cinema and stood behind the accused to verify the act. Once convinced that the accused was indeed recording the film, he escorted him to another room.
A check of Artem’s mobile phone gallery revealed a 31-minute clip of the film, which was being screened during a premiere session.
A review of CCTV footage also showed that the accused had committed a similar act on Oct 9.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Ikhwan Nasir urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, emphasising that public interest must take precedence over personal interest.
“The accused is fully aware that recording inside a cinema is an offence. As a foreign national, he should also respect the laws of this country,” he said.
Lawyer S Kanesan, representing the accused, appealed for a lighter sentence, arguing that the recording was made for personal use and not for commercial distribution.
He also told the court that his client had missed classes since being remanded on Nov 13.
