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Movida bombers sentenced to 25 years' jail

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today sentenced two men to 25 years' jail each for committing  a terrorist act by exploding a grenade at an entertainment centre in Puchong last June, causing eight people to be injured.

Judicial Commissioner Nordin Hassan handed down the sentence on unemployed Imam Wahyudin Karjono, 21, and factory operator Jonius Ondie @ Jahali, 25, after they changed their plea to guilty.

Nordin said the court regarded the case as very serious involving a terrorist group in the country as it had resulted in serious injuries to the victims.

"The aim of imposing the sentence is not just for both of you, but to give a signal to those outside there and your comrades who want to continue the struggle (of supporting violence) which they feel is correct. 

"Your action had caused chaos in Malaysia which had never happened before and it must be regarded as serious by all parties," said Nordin.

The court also sentenced Imam Wahyudin and Jonius to 10 years' jail each for supporting a terrorist act.

The court ordered the two men to serve the jail sentences concurrently from the date of their arrest. Imam Wahyudin was arrested on June 29, 2016, while Jonius on July 1, 2016.

Today was fixed for the second day trial of the case, but they changed their plea.

Imam Wahyudin, who wore a white T-shirt and Jonius, a black T-shirt and donning a white skull-cap, appeared calm and lowered their heads when the court handed down the sentence.

They were charged with throwing the hand grenade at Movida Boulevard Sdn Bhd entertainment centre at Lot G2 & G3, Ground Floor, IOI Boulevard, Jalan Kenari 5, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong, at 2am, on June 28 last year.

The act was to further an ideological struggle and was aimed at threatening the public in Malaysia.

They were charged under Section 130C (1)(b) of the Penal Code which provides a 30-year jail sentence and fine. 

They were also charged with helping a terrorist group by taking up an oath via Telegram application in the chat group 'black crow' via handphones on March 30 and June 15, 2016.

They were both charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code which provided for a life sentence or jail not more than 30 years and fine and seizure of any property which had been used or intended for use for the offence.

In mitigation, lawyers Wan Azwan Aiman, who represented Imam Wahyudin, and PA Sharon, who represented Jonius, said their clients had repented and regretted their actions and promised not to repeat it.

Deputy public prosecutor Saiful Edris Zainuddin, who prosecuted, requested the court to impose a commensurative punishment to reflect the seriousness of the government in tackling the issuse of terrorism which was becoming rampant.

He said the action of the accused too was provocative, which alarmed the country.

Based on the facts of the case, both the accused had planned to bomb night clubs or pubs to support a terrorist group and they had obtained two hand grenades at the Sri Kembangan Rest and Service area in Selangor.

On the night of June 27, 2016, the accused, together with two other individuals intended to bomb the Pitbull night club, but it was closed, forcing them to change their target to the Movida night club.

On June 28 at 2 am, the gang threw a grenade at the club from a motorcycle before fleeing the scene. Eight people were injured in the incident.

On July 25, 2016, the two men were charged in the Petaling Jaya court with committing terrorism by throwing a grenade which used a M213 Fuse and hurting eight people.

- Bernama

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