Groom-to-be gets jail over IS flag picture on phone

KUALA LUMPUR: The owner of an interior designing firm was jailed nine months for possessing a handphone containing a picture of the Islamic State (IS) flag.

High Court judge Datuk Azman Husin ordered Azlee Md Salleh to serve his sentence from the date of his arrest on Aug 19, 2015, after Azlee pleaded guilty to the charge.

He admitted committing the offence at a house in Jalan Dahlia 7, Taman Ira, Kangar, Perlis, at about 8.30am on Aug 19 this year.

The charge under Section 130JB (1)(a) of the Penal Code carries a maximum of seven years jail or a fine, upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, Azlee, who graduated from UiTM Perak, started to have contacts with several people who are fighting for the IS, such as Zulqarnain Ghaz.

The accused had knowledge that Zulqarnain was shot when fighting in Syria and had returned to Malaysia in 2014.

Azlee had contacted Zulqarnain and he was told that Zulqarnain was wanted by the police and sought financial assistance.

In mitigation, Azlee’s lawyer M. Dinesh said the accused is engaged and had planned to marry his fiancee on Oct 19.

He said Azlee is a good person and helpful.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the charge appears to be light but on a second look it is actually serious.

He asked the court to mete out a deterrent sentence to serve as a lesson to others.