Court extends mental observation for youth convicted of insulting Islam

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Alister (right) is escorted outside the court room.

KUCHING: The Kuching High Court today extended the mental observation on the youth convicted of insulting Islam online Alister Cogia, 22, for another month as the psychiatric report was not ready.

Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli set June 17 for the case remention, and also for the disclosure of the full psychiatric report.

The prosecution was represented by Deputy Prosecutor Musli Abdul Hamid while Alister was represented by Francis Teron, Desmond Kho and Jeffery Mok.

The judge had earlier ordered Alister to be placed under observation at the Hospital Sentosa since March 13 to determine his mental health. The observation period was extended for another month on April 16 as the report was not completed.

He was sentenced to a total of 10 years and RM50,000-fine for five charges under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code and five charges under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998, for insulting the Prophet Muhammad via his Facebook account ‘Ayea Yea’.

Alister’s case had attracted widespread attention of various parties. His lawyers were seeking to review whether his sentencing was appropriate as he might be suffering from mental illness.