KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has sentenced an Indonesian to 42 months’ jail for possessing pictures linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group.
Tonny Indra Prayitna pleaded guilty on Thursday (March 1) to possessing 32 pictures related to the IS in his mobile phone at a house in Petaling Jaya at 11.45am on Aug 25 last year.
The offence falls under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine, and the forfeiture of property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of the offence.
The father of four told the court that he was the sole breadwinner in his family.
“I came here to Malaysia 18 years ago to start my handicraft business in Penang before I came to Kuala Lumpur as a night market trader.
"My wife and mother were forced to work after I was arrested six months ago to support the family," he said.
Tonny, who was unrepresented, added that he was not aware that keeping IS-related pictures is a crime.
However, High Court judge Justice Mohd Sofian Abd Razak said that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.
“You allowed yourself to be exposed to acts of terror by keeping the pictures related to the IS,” he said.
DPP Azlina Rasdi appeared for the prosecution.
Meanwhile, a 34-year-old technician claimed trial at the same court to a charge of supporting and possessing items related to the IS in May last year.
Mohd Fairul Azhar Jaafar was accused of possessing the items in his thumb drive at a Kota Kemuning office at about 1.15pm on May 25, 2017.
The accused was represented by lawyer Mohd Hezri Shaharil and was charged under Section 130(1)(a) of the Penal Code and Section 130JB(1)(a) of the same Code respectively.
The court fixed July 23, 24, and 25 for trial.
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