Soldier jailed nine months for having IS-related publications
A military personnel was jailed for nine months by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today, after he pleaded guilty to possessing 11 publications that were linked to the activities of the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Judge Azman Abdullah ordered Private Mohammad Rosdan Mohammad Khir, 25, from Mahang, Kulim, Kedah, to serve the prison sentence from the date of his arrest on Aug 19, 2015.
Mohammad Rosdan, a soldier in the Border Regiment, of the Bukit Kayu Hitam Camp, Kedah, was charged with committing the offence at the Gerik Police Station at 10.20am on Aug 19 last year, in accordance with Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine.
Based on the facts of the case, the police arrested Mohammad Rosdan at the Gerik Police Station in Perak, on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities, and an investigation revealed 11 publications related to the terrorist group’s activities in the accused’s mobile phone.
In his judgment, Azman said that if the accused’s interest in the acts of terrorism was not addressed, it could cause great harm if he was influenced by irresponsible parties.
“You’re a soldier, we fear that others who are interested in these terrorist activities could take advantage of you, because you have access to firearms,” he said.
Earlier, DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim urged the court to provide an appropriate sentencing on the grounds that the accused was a soldier who should be responsible to protect the country.
Lawyer Mohd Khairul Anwar Ismail, who represented Mohammad Rosdan, requested for leniency on the grounds that his client had to support his parents, who lived in Kedah.
“The accused is very naive, considering the items he possessed were obtained via social media and online,” he said.
- Bernama
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