KUALA LUMPUR: A policeman with the rank of ‘Lance Corporal’ claimed trial at the High Court here today on three charges of supporting and withholding information on terror activities.
Mustaza Abdul Rahman, 29, who was attached to the Kuala Muda district police headquarters, was calm when the charges were read before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan today.
For the first charge, Mustaza allegedly supported the commission of a terrorist outrage by using an explosive, an act which was also intended to further an ideology and threaten public order in Malaysia.
He was charged under Section 130J(1)(b) of the Penal Code, which provides for life imprisonment, or a jail term of up to 30 years, or a fine, and liable forfeiture of any property used in the commission of the offence, upon conviction.
For the second charge, he allegedly withheld information on terrorist group Islamic State (IS) in the country, for which he can be charged under Section 130M of the same Act, which provides for a jail term of up to seven year or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
As for the third charge, Mustaza allegedly gave his support to IS by pledging his loyalty (berbai’ah) to the terrorist group via a Telegram application.
He allegedly committed all the offences at G7-1-1, Block Iksora, Perumahan Polis IPD Kuala Muda, Sungai Petani, in Kedah, between March and July this year.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa Kunyalam prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.