Jail sentence on organised crime group members upheld

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal Tuesday upheld the five-year prison sentence on 14 men, including a former national Muay Thai athlete, for being members of the organised crime group ‘Ayahanda Yie Tiger 99’.

This followed a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel led by Datuk Hanipah Farikullah in dismissing the prosecution’s appeal against the five-year prison sentence on grounds that there was no reason for the court to change or interfere with the decision of the Shah Alam High Court, made in March 2021 and March 2022.

“After reading and hearing the submissions, we found that the High Court Judge had not erred in his decision. We also found that the judge had detailed the factors in handing down the five-year jail sentence, including taking into account the public interest factor.

“Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed and the five-year prison sentence from the date of arrest is upheld,” said Hanipah, who sat with Judges Datuk Supang Lian and Datuk Wira Ahmad Nasfy Yasin.

The 14 men, in handcuffs in the dock, were seen to be overwhelmed with the decision and heard saying “Alhamdullilah” (Praise be to Allah).

They are Mohd Faizal Ramli (the former national Muay Thai athlete), Mohamad Japri Abu Samah, Astro Jakaria, Nuriasbat Mohd Maamon, Edi Narsuna Nizar, Muhammad Faris Yusoff, Muhamad Fakhrurazi Ali, Mohamad Sharfiq Mohamed Ali, Mohamad Noor Helmie Zanal Abidin, W Mohd Ihsan W Razali@W Husin, Rustam Tanni, Azukismi Che Abdullah, Nik Arzahar Nik Mat and Masyre Mohamed Narizan. They are aged between 27 and 46.

They were arrested in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and pleaded guilty to becoming members of the organised crime group at a premises in Jalan Sentul, Pandamaran, Port Klang, between May 2017 and Jan 22, 2020.

The charge against them was framed under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, whic provides imprisonment for up to 20 years, upon conviction.