KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — A Royal Malaysian Navy personnel was sentenced to nine months’ jail by the High Court here today after he pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile telephone that contained images related to the IS terrorist group.

Judge Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad ordered Zakariya Ahmad to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on Aug 19.

Siti Mariah said the court agreed that the offence was serious but it must take into account that Zakariya had pleaded guilty at an early stage, which had saved all parties’ time and resources.

Zakariya, 27, of Kepala Batas, Penang, was charged with committing the offence at the visitors’ room of the camp commandant building of the Bukit Aman Police headquarters at 9.05am on Aug 19.

The charge, under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to seven years or a fine.

According to the facts of the case, Zakariya began to show interest in the group’s development and struggle through his Facebook account.

In mitigation, counsel Fahmi Abd Moin said his client had served in the navy for eight years as a lance corporal and was still single.

Fahmi said his client, who had no previous criminal record, was the only male of 12 siblings and had a retired father and a housewife mother to support.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin. — Bernama