Alister Cogia case: High Court to hear application for revision today

KUCHING: The High Court will today hear an application for revision of the Sessions Court’s decision on the administration of the criminal case against Alister Cogia.

The 22-year- old was sentenced to 10 years in prison and an RM50,000 fine after being convicted on his own guilty plea, while unrepresented by counsel, for uploading offensive materials on Islam and Prophet Muhammad on social media.

A legal team from Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) filed the application at the Court Registry here yesterday and the Court Registrar fixed today to hear the application.

The legal team comprising Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, Desmond Kho, Jeffery Mok, and Francis Teron visited Alister at the Puncak Borneo Prison yesterday.

“He (Alister) appears confused and puzzled as to his current circumstances,” said Kho.

However, he declined to comment on Alister’s mental state.

“I am unable to comment as I’d rather leave this issue to qualified persons,” he said.

The criminal revision is to ensure there is regularity of the proceedings and correctness, legality, and propriety of the court’s findings, sentence, and order recorded and passed.

According to Alister’s mother Alen Rijod, he had shown signs of mental illness since young.

She also said they were not given the chance to meet Alister during the four days he was under remand and were not told he was to appear in court on Friday.