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2018 MarsdenLR 2326
COURT OF APPEAL PUTRAJAYA
PP – Appellant
Versus
WAN MOHAMAD NUR FIRDAUS ABD WAHAB & ANOTHER APPEAL – Respondent
[Criminal Appeal Nos: W-05(H)-340-08-2017 & W-05(H)-367-08-2017]
Sentencing in terrorism cases must consider the accused's degree of involvement and individual circumstances to ensure proportionality.
Headnote:Statutory Overview: The court addressed charges under the Penal Code sections 130J(1)(a) and 130JB(1)(a) concerning terrorism. Facts: The accused, influenced by peers, engaged in supporting IS via social media, pleading guilty to charges. Court's Findings: The High Court's sentences of eight and five years were deemed excessive. Main
Issues: The court assessed the severity of sentences relative to participation in terror activities.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for proportionality in sentencing based on the accused's minimal involvement in IS, observing his plea and character.
Result: The court allowed the accused's appeal, reducing sentences to five and two years respectively, to run concurrently.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. overview of the appeals and background. (Para 1) |
[1] These two appeals originate from a decision of the High Court in sentencing the accused to eight years' and five years' imprisonment respectively, for two charges under S 130J(1)(a) and S 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code . Both the accused and the Public Prosecutor ("the PP") were dissatisfied with the said sentences and have each filed an appeal against the same. Having heard their submissions at the joint hearing of the two appeals, we have allowed the appeal of the accused and dismissed that of the Public Prosecutor. Our reasons for doing so are enumerated below but first we would reproduce the two charges as contained at pp 9 and 11 of the Appeal Record Vol 1:
First charge
"Bahawa kamu di antara 25 Mac 2016 hingga 25 September 2016, di sebuah rumah beralamat No. 8, Jalan Cili 24/28D, Seksyen 24, di dalam Daerah Petaling, di dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan, dengan pengetahuan telah memberi sokongan kepada kumpulan pengganas iaitu Islamic State dengan cara menggunakan aplikasi media social Telegram atas nama Lat Firdaus, dan dengan itu kamu telah melakukan suatu kesalahan di bawah S 130J(1)(a) Kanun Keseksaan yang boleh dihukum di bawah S 130J(1) Kanun yang sama.
Hukuman
Jika disabitkan dengan kesalahan, kamu hendaklah diseksa dengan penjara seumur hidup atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi tiga puluh tahun, atau denda dan bolehlah dirampas mana-mana harta yang telah digunakan atau diniat untuk melakukan kesalahan itu."
