Lawyer: IS symphatisers can appeal to drop terror charges too
Sympathisers of the militant group IS charged with promoting the group might also get their cases dropped. This comes after today's decision by the Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to withdraw charges against suspects linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said a lawyer.
M Hafiz Zainol Abidin, a criminal lawyer who has represented defendants in several terrorism-related cases before, said the charges against his clients were mostly similar to the 12 men who were charged with supporting and promoting LTTE.
Sympathisers of the militant group IS charged with promoting the group might also get their cases dropped. This comes after today's decision by the Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to withdraw charges against suspects linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said a lawyer.
M Hafiz Zainol Abidin, a criminal lawyer who has represented accused in several terrorism-related cases before, said the charges against his clients were mostly similar to the 12 men who were charged with supporting and promoting LTTE.
He said in most court cases involving terrorism-related suspects in the country, they were charged with having items related to terror groups and showing their support.
Such actions are an offence and punishable under the Penal Code.
"Today, the AG in his decision to discontinue proceedings against 12 suspects linked to LTTE, cited that having materials like photos and other representations of a terrorist do not make the supporter regarded as one, or is planning a terrorist act," he told Malaysiakini today.
"So, there is a possibility to use this to get such charges against others who are alleged of being sympathisers or supporters of terrorist to be withdrawn as well.
"Like my clients who have been accused of supporting and promoting IS, they were charged using evidence similar to the case of the 12 absolved by the AG today.
"Then, what is the difference between an IS sympathiser and LTTE sympathiser? Both keep photographs and materials of people they admire or support."
Hafiz was responding to earlier breaking news where Thomas announced his decision to discontinue proceedings against the 12 who had been slapped with a total of 34 charges for allegedly supporting and promoting LTTE.
According to the counsel, the decision by Thomas also opens the possibility for those who have been convicted by a court of law using similar evidence to appeal their cases.
The convicts can appeal on the technicality of their charges, he added.
"I will discuss with my clients on this matter and the next step for their cases," Hafiz said.
Meanwhile, lawyer-turned-politician Syahredzan Johan has also come forward urging the AG to review other cases under Section 130J(1) and Section 130JB(1) of the Penal Code.
The sections deal with offences related to supporting terrorist organisations and having items associated with a terror group, respectively.
"I have read the grounds cited by the AG and welcome his decision to discontinue proceedings," Syahredzan tweeted.
"I also want to urge Tommy Thomas to review all other charges under Section 130J(1) and Section 130JB(1) of the Penal Code, applying the same principle," he added.
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Bar: Public needs to know why LTTE 12 were charged in first place?
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