KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — The Attorney-General’s Chambers will file an alternative charge on former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee, Yazid Sufaat, and cafeteria worker, Muhammad Hilmi Hasim for their alleged involvement in encouraging acts of terrorism.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria informed High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin on the matter today after the prosecution had agreed to amend the original charge on Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi.
Mohamad Hanafiah said this was because the prosecution had received a representation from the defence for the AG’s Chambers to review the charge.
Counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi, confirmed that he had submitted the letter of representation last Friday after listening to the testimony of 25 witnesses for the prosecution.
Mohd Azman fixed tomorrow for the alternative charge to be read to Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi.
According to the original charge, Yazid, 52, is alleged to have encouraged the use of violence by promoting the ideology aimed at threatening the people in Syria between 8.30am to 10.30am on August 1 to October 20, 2012 at the house address DL11, Taman Bukit Ampang, Lorong Mutiara 2, Lembah Jaya, Ampang, near here.
On the second charge, Yazid is alleged to be a member of the group Tanzim al-Qaeda Malaysia at the same place between August 1, 2012 and February 7, 2013.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Hilmi, 36, is charged with becoming a member of the group concerned and another charge for conspiring in encouraging violence to promote the ideology with the intention to threaten the public in Syria.
They were charged under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of 30 years and liable to a fine, and Section 130KA of the same code which provides for life imprisonment and also liable to a fine, upon conviction. — Bernama
