Published: Monday February 13, 2012 MYT 11:51:00 AM
Updated: Monday February 13, 2012 MYT 12:03:51 PM
Court of Appeal upholds conviction of two brothers in church arson case
By NURBAITI HAMDAN
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal here Monday upheld the conviction of two brothers, Raja Muhammad Faizal and Raja Muhammad Idzham, who were involved in the arson of the Metro Tabernacle church in Desa Melawati two years ago.
The court, however, in a unanimous decision, said the five-year jail term imposed by a Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court was "excessive", therefore substituting it with a two-year imprisonment.
Justice Low Hop Bing, who chaired a three-man panel, said both the accused were first-time offenders and relatively young at the time of the offence.
The court also considered that no one was harmed during the act.
"We are of the view that custodial sentence is necessary but five years is excessive," he said.
The brothers were represented by Salim Bashir and deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi appeared for the prosecution.
Despatch rider Raja Muhammad Faizal, 25, and Raja Muhammad Idzham, 23, a bank employee, were each sentenced to five years' imprisonment after they were found guilty by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Aug 13, 2010, for causing mischief by torching the church at Jalan 4/4c, Desa Melawati at 11.50 pm on Jan 7, 2010. They were charged along with several others still at large.
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