KUALA LUMPUR: Ex-Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat and cafeteria helper Muhammad Hilmi Hasim have been sentenced to seven years’ jail for intentionally omitting information on terrorist activities in 2012.
The duo, clad in blue and red shirts respectively, smiled as they entered their guilty plea on an alternative charge at the High Court today.
In passing sentence, judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin today said the public's interest must be taken into consideration as rising number of terrorist activities had affected the country and the whole world.
He ordered for their jail term to run from the date of their arrest, on Feb 7, 2013.
Yazid, 51, and Hilmi, 36, were charged under Section 130M of the Penal Code after a representation made by their counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad on Jan 22 was accepted by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).
Yesterday, the AGC had agreed on the representation to review both the accused’s original charges under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code and 130KA of the same code and offered them a reduced charge under Section 130M.
Their charge under Section 130M carries a maximum jail sentence of up to seven years or fine, or both, upon conviction.
In mitigating for leniency, Amer asked the court to consider as both were first offenders.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakariah urged for a just sentence.
In their original charge, Yazid was charged with promoting terror acts with the intention to threaten the public in strife-torn Syria, and for being a member of Tanzim Al-Qaeda Malaysia, while Hilmi was charged with abetting him.
They were accused of committing the offences in a house in Taman Bukit Ampang, Lembah Jaya here between Aug 1, 2012 and Feb 7, 2013.
Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code carries a jail sentence of up to 30 years while Section 130KA carries a life imprisonment and fine if convicted.