KUALA LUMPUR: A labourer was sentenced to 18 months jail by the High Court for possessing terrorism propaganda materials including images and videos related to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
Mohd Al-Arshy Mus Budiono, 24, was sentenced after he changed his plea to guilty to the offence today before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
In sentencing, Mohd Nazlan advised the accused not to be involved with activities that are against the country’s law especially relating to terrorism.
“Offences related to terrorism is serious as it can threaten national security and parliamentary democracy system,” he said.
The court ordered the accused who is from East Java to serve his jail time from the date of his arrest on Jan 17.
According to the charge, Mohd Al-Arshy had in his possession five images and nine videos related to IS in his handphone.
He committed the offence at Restoran Klasik Hijau, Jalan Awan Hijau, Taman Overseas Union in Brickfields, here, at about 3pm on Jan 17.
The charge under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code carries a maximum seven years’ jail or fine and a possible forfeiture of the items, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Munirah Shamsudin @ Baharum urged the court to impose a sentence that will serve as a lesson to the accused.
In pleading for leniency, counsel Zaini Bakar who represented Mohd Al-Arshy said her client who is the eldest is supporting his four siblings who are still in school and live with his grandmother in East Java.
She added that the accused came to Malaysia when he was 18 years old to make a better living and did not know what he did was an offence.
“He kept the images for his personal viewing and not to influence others,” she said.