Woman with militant books has prison term reduced

PUTRAJAYA: A former Master’s student who was jailed for having 12 books related to militancy had her prison term reduced from five years to three by the Court of Appeal.

Justice Kamardin Hashim, who sat with Justices Ahmadi Asnawi and Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, reduced the prison sentence on Siti Noor Aishah Atam, 30, after the panel found that it was manifestly excessive.

He instructed that the jail term run from March 23 last year, the day of her arrest.

However, Justice Kamardin said the panel found Siti Noor Aishah’s appeal against her conviction was without merit, and they agreed with the trial judge that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt in her case.

“The High Court judge did not make any error in his findings to convict the appellant,” he said yesterday.

Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah had on April 26 sentenced Siti Noor Aishah to five years’ jail for having books on international terror groups such as the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.

The offence was committed at Lot 1241, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Sura, Dungun, Terengganu, at 12.25pm on March 22 last year.

The charge under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code carries a jail sentence of not more than seven years, or a fine, or forfeiture of any of the items, upon conviction.

On Sept 29 last year, Siti Noor Aishah was acquitted and discharged after the court found that the prosecution had failed to raise a prima facie case against her.

However, on March 27, the Court of Appeal ordered the case to be remitted back to the High Court for the appellant to enter her defence.

Siti Noor Aishah’s counsel Mohd Kamaruzaman A. Wahab said he would ask his client if she wanted to appeal to the Federal Court.