Being a public figure is not as glamorous as one might believe, as you’d be an easy target for cyberbullying and harassment. Death threats are also sadly a normal occurrence in the entertainment industry, especially if a celebrity is caught doing or saying something controversial. Local singer Baby Shima shared that she normally ignores most threats sent to her on social media, but this time, she isn’t taking any chances and decided to file a police report.
Recently, the 32-year-old received a death threat on Facebook from a lorry driver in Sarawak after it was announced that she’d be performing in the state for the MOTAC Bersama Komuniti event. “How dare you come to Sarawak! You better hope you return home alive. Take care, Baby Shima,” the netizen wrote. Just as she did last time, the celebrity exposed the man by posting his menacing remark and his photos on her Instagram page.
It was reported yesterday (Wednesday, 1st January) that police had arrested the suspect at 9:15 pm in Kota Sentosa, Kuching, over the alleged death threat. According to reports, the Sibu Magistrate’s Court has allowed the man to be remanded until Friday (3rd January) to enable police to complete their investigation into the case, which falls under Section 507 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili also confirmed that the 35-year-old driver’s smartphone had been confiscated for further investigation. At the time of writing, there have been no updates from the authorities regarding the case. However, if the suspect is found guilty, he could face a punishment of imprisonment for a term of up to two years.
Baby Shima expressed relief after the suspect was arrested by sharing the news on her Instagram Story. Speaking to reporters, the singer also urged the public to think before posting threats online, as it is not something to be taken lightly. “I don’t care if you don’t like me, but threatening my safety is crossing the line,” she said.
The “Bujang Sarawak” songstress added that although she has received similar threats in the past, this most recent one was by far the most terrifying. We can only imagine the fear and anxiety Baby Shima must have felt.
Sources: Instagram, Hmetro (1)(2), Kosmo, Bernama, Burgielaw, SarawakTribune
