TECHNICIAN IS FIRST-EVER PERSON CONVICTED OF TERROR FINANCING
A total of RM11,090 was banked into Bukhori’s bank account
ATECHNICIAN yesterday became the first man in Malaysia to be sent to prison for a terror financing offence. The High Court sentenced Bukhori Che Noor to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to providing financial services by allowing a bank account to be used for withdrawal and deposit purposes, benefiting Syria-based Islamic State militant Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi.
He was accused of committing the offence at a Maybank branch in Jalan Chain Ferry, Butterworth, between November 2015 and June 30 last year.
He was charged under Section 130O(1)(bb) of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum jail term of seven years and a maximum custodial sentence of 30 years.
High Court judge Datuk Azman Abdullah, in handing down the sentence, noted that the courts had dealt with 28 terror-related offences in February alone, and 40 for the whole of last year.
“Malaysia is facing a new threat, which is terrorism, after the threat of communism. This is truly worrying. (The number of terror-related offences being dealt with by the courts) goes to show the threat of terror is increasing in Malaysia.”
In admonishing Bukhori, Azman said the technician should have known better because, as a 35-year-old adult, he should have realised the difference between good and bad.
“Anything related to terror is bad. What is it that you hope to get by being involved in a terrorrelated offence?”
According to the facts of the case, Bukhori went by the name “Black Arrow” in the “Gagak Hitam” Telegram group on his mobile phone application. Wanndy had instructed Jonius Ondie Jahali, a man previously accused of terror-related offences, to make three deposits into Bukhori’s bank account.
The first deposit was for RM2,000 on Dec 18, 2015, followed by another two for RM1,090 (Jan 26, 2016) and RM3,600 (April 13, 2016).
On Feb 18, 2016, Wanndy’s older brother Mohamed Danny, was instructed to bank RM4,300 into the account and on March 14, 2016, another IS supporter, Mohd Haniffa Syedul Akhbar, banked in RM100.
In total, RM11,090 was banked into Bukhori’s account. All the men were later arrested and jailed.
Bukhori, who was unrepresented, in mitigating for a lenient sentence, told the court that he earned RM2,000 a month and had to support his wife and two children.
“I regret my actions and will not get involved in such activities again. I appeal to the court to impose a lenient sentence for my offence.”
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Fadzlan Mohd Noor, however, sought a deterrent custodial sentence for Bukhori, saying that the fact the accused had pleaded guilty should not be considered a mitigating factor.
“The court should take into consideration the seriousness of the offence and public interest. The IS terror group is a global threat.”
Azman meted out the sentence and ordered Bukhori’s jail term to start from the date of his arrest on June 30, 2016.
In another High Court, a food stall assistant claimed trial to three terror-related offences.
Azizi Abdullah, 21, was accused of knowingly supporting the act of terrorism, which involved the use of an explosive to further an ideology and threaten public order in Malaysia via his mobile phone Telegram application between March 25 and June 29, 2016.
He was also accused of being in possession of an item related to terror activities and the IS group at noon on June 29, 2016.
Azizi was charged with possession of terror-related and IS images on his mobile phone on the same time and day.
He is alleged to have committed all three offences at F15, Kg Baru Lubok Buntar, Serdang in Bandar Baru, Kedah.
Judge Datuk Nordin Hassan fixed April 25 for mention and also for Azizi to get legal representation.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Syazwani Muhamad Sobry acted for the prosecution.
I regret my actions and will not get involved in such activities again.
BUKHORI CHE NOOR