Rohingya man jailed for attempted suicide

KUALA LUMPUR: A Rohingya man who gave up on life and wanted to set himself ablaze in a show of protest over the killings of the Rohingya in Myanmar was sentenced to three months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for attempted suicide.

“I want to set fire to myself. There’s no meaning to life anymore,” the man screamed, while pouring a container of petrol onto himself .

Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abdul Wahid handed down the sentence on Ali Juhar Jamal Hussin,19, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Ali Juhar was also sentenced to another three months’ jail for entering the country without valid travel documents, with both jail sentences to be served concurrently from the date of his arrest on Aug 30 this year.

“I am sad. I am alone in this world. My family members are all dead, either bombed or killed by the ( Myanmar) soldiers,” he said when Ahmad Solihin asked him why he acted such.

Ali Juhar was charged with committing both offences near the Myanmar Embassy near the Ampang Park LRT station, Jalan Ampang, Dang Wangi here at 11.30 am last Aug 30.

The charge for attempted suicide, under Section 309 of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to a year, or fine, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Noorelynna Hanim Abdul Halim prosecuted.

According to the facts of the case, police had seen a group of Rohingya men staging a protest while holding a banner that said “Stop Killing Rohingya From Arakan” and then saw a man pouring petrol on himself. — Bernama