Factory technician gets eight years’ jail term for links to IS

KUALA LUMPUR: A factory technician cried in court after he was jailed eight years for giving support and having various items related to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Muhammad Safuan Mohd pleaded guilty at the High Court here yesterday to giving support to IS by pledging his loyalty to it through a Telegram group chat, known as Gagak Hitam, using the name Abu Marwan Salaki.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing 72 videos, 19 photographs and 419 documents related to IS in his mobile phone.

Justice Azman Abdullah sentenced him to eight years’ jail on the first charge and three years on the second, with the sentences to run concurrently from Oct 6 last year.

In his judgment, Justice Azman said evidence showed that the accused intended to go to Syria and if the court had not addressed the issue, he would have continued supporting IS.

He added that Muhammad Safuan's actions could affect the country’s peace and stability.

The 29-year-old committed the offences at a house in Jalan Matahari, Section U5 (Panasuria) in the Petaling district, at 3.29am on March 30 last year; and at a parking lot in front of Block C at 7pm on Oct 6 the same year.

After Justice Azman handed down the sentence, Muhammad Safuan cried in the dock. His family members were in the public gallery.

Earlier, in mitigation, Muhammad Safuan said he was the sole breadwinner and needed to support his two children.

DPP Mohd Izhanudin Alias urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.