Man claims trial to charge of supporting IS

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KOTA KINABALU: A man from Kota Belud claimed trial to a charge of supporting the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and possessing photos related to the group at the High Court here yesterday.

Aszroy Achoi, 25, denied both counts framed under the Penal Code when the amended charges were read to him before justice Ravinthran Paramaguru.

On the first count, Aszroy was alleged to have given support to IS through a Facebook account with the user name Yohyo Illa’nur AlSaba Malizia belonging to him, at Kampung Kota Bungan along Jalan Kudat, Kota Belud, between July 5 and 19, 2016.

The charge falls under paragraph 130J(1)(a) of the Code, which provides for a life sentence or imprisonment of up to 30 years or a fine, with forfeiture of any property used in connection with the commission of the offence, on conviction.

On the second count, the former menial worker was accused of having 43 images related to the terrorist group in a mobile phone, in a special branch room at the Kota Belud police headquarters on July 24 of the same year, around 10am.

The offence was framed under paragraph 130JB(1)(a) of the same Code, which upon conviction carries liability to a maximum of seven years behind bars or a fine, with forfeiture of any property used in connection with the commission of the offence.

Due to the gravity of the charge, Aszroy was ordered to be further detained under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code, while awaiting case management on Feb 3 pending the preparation of documents.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali led the prosecution while defence counsel Farah Saira Abd Razak represented the accused.