A night market trader was today sentenced to seven years' jail by the Kuala Lumpur High Court for harbouring two friends who are wanted by the police for involvement with the Islamic State terrorist group.

Judge Azman Abdullah handed down the sentence on Mohd Sanusi Satar, 31, after he changed his not guilty plea to guilty today.

Mohd Sanusi was ordered to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest, which was Aug 8, 2016.

Azman, in his judgment, said the offence committed by Mohd Sanusi in protecting individuals involved in terrorism was serious.

"The accused should realise that terrorist activities cannot be protected, and although he played a small role by protecting the criminals involved, it shows the seriousness of the offence.

"The action by the accused in protecting the criminal offenders is like he, himself, is involved in the offence," he added.

Mohd Sanusi was charged under Section 130 of the Penal Code with harbouring or avoiding the arrest of Jasanizam Rosni, 33, and Md Saifuddin Muji, 28, who he knew had committed, or would probably commit, act of terrorism.

The offence was committed in a hut on a hill near a fruit orchard at Sg Pas, Kuala Krai, Kelantan, from July 1 to Aug 8, 2016.

Based on the facts of the case, on July 1, 2016, Jasanizam, also known as "Zam" and Md Saifuddin, also known as "Panjang", told Mohd Sanusi that they were looking for a place to hide from the police in connection with a case in Puchong, which Mohd Sanusi knew involved bomb explosion.

Mohd Sanusi then allowed Jasanizam and Md Saifuddin to stay at his parents' house at RPT Sungai Pas, Kuala Krai, Kelantan.

However, after a woman sent him a screenshot of the two men who were wanted by the police in connection with a bomb explosion at the Movida night club, he felt guilty and asked a man by the name of  "Tarmizie" to bring Jasanizam and Md Saifuddin to his father's fruit orchard, where the two men were in hiding prior to their arrest by the police on Aug 9, 2016.

On Jan 27 this year, Jasanizam pleaded not guilty to a charge of making preparation to commit terrorist act on temples and night clubs in Johor Baru.

As for Md Saifuddin, he had been sentenced to 14 years jail and six whippings for unlawful possession of a hand grenade. 

In mitigation, Mohd Sanusi's lawyer, Salehuddin Salleh, said his client was not aware of the offence committed and he was influenced by Jasanizam  who had been his friend for more than 10 years.

"Jasanizam was not only my client's close friend, but also his business partner," he added.

Salehuddin said his client, who sold pirated DVDs, had no previous record.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Fadzlan Mohd Noor prosecuted.

- Bernama