Indonesian trader jailed for possession of Daesh-related images

KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian night market trader was sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail by the High Court here today, for possessing 34 images of the Daesh militant group in his mobile phone last year.
Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak handed down the sentence on Tonny Indra Prayitna after he pleaded guilty and ordered him to serve the sentence from the date of arrest on Aug 25, 2017.
"You should not have deviated from your original intention which was to seek sustenance but instead you kept the militant group photographs. The court fears that if this is not contained, you will sympathise them and join their cause," Mohd Sofian said.
The father of the four was charged with committing the offence at a premises in Jalan Cecawi 6/19, Gugusan Tanjung, Petaling Jaya here, at 11.45am on Aug 25 last year.
The offence framed under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of seven years or a fine and shall also be liable to forfeiture of any such item.
Deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence as this was a serious offence.
In appealing for a lighter sentence the accused said he was the sole breadwinner he was totally unaware that it was an offence to keep the images.
"My mother and wife had to work ever since I was arrested six months ago," he said with his voice choked with emotion.
In the same court, a technician pleaded not guilty to two counts of supporting and possessing materials related to the Daesh militant, in a pen drive, in May last year.
Mohd Fairul Azhar Jaafar, 34, was charged with supporting the militant group at the compounds of ICHOR System Malaysia Sdn Bhd at Jalan Anggerik Mokara 31/63, Kota Kemuning, Seksyen 31, Shah Alam, at 1.15pm on May 25, 2017.
The charge under Section 130J (1) (a) of the Penal Code provides for life imprisonment, or for up to 30 years, or fine, and forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of the offence, if found guilty.
On the second count, Mohd Fairul Azhar was charged under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code with knowingly having 34 images related to the Daesh militant group, inside a pen drive, at the same place and time.
Deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi did not offer any bail as this is a non-bailable offence.
The court fixed July 23 for the trial. — Bernama