Tuesday February 26, 2013

Cafeteria worker claims trial to abetting ex-ISA detainee

By MAIZATUL NAZLINA
nazlina@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Cafeteria helper Muhammad Hilmi Hasim claimed trial to a charge of abetting former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat in promoting acts of terrorism in strife-torn Syria.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was re-read before High Court judge Justice Kamardin Hashim yesterday.

The case had been transferred here from the Ampang magistrate’s court.

Justice Kamardin fixed April 22 for case management and set trial for four days from May 20 and another five days from June 17.

Muhammad Hilmi, 33, who is also Yazid’s employee, is alleged to have committed the offence at a house in Taman Bukit Ampang, Ampang, between 8.30am and 10.30am between Aug 1 and 20 last year.

He was charged under Section 130G (a) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 109 of the same Act, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 30 years and a fine.

Muhammad Hilmi, who was handcuffed, appeared calm when the charge was read to him.

Earlier, DPP Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria applied for a joint trial with Yazid, who had been charged with inciting terrorism; and religious teacher Halimah Hussein, who is charged with abetting Yazid.

Counsel Amer Hamzah Arsyad, who acted for Muhammad Hilmi, said he had no objection to Mohd Hanafiah’s application.

Amer Hamzah also told the court that he would apply to set aside the charge in a week or two.

Yazid, who operates a cafeteria at the court complex here, was charged on Feb 8 with promoting acts of terrorism in Syria.

Halimah, 52, was charged with abetting Yazid, 49, at a house in Ampang between Aug and Oct, 2012.

Yazid was detained under the ISA in 2001 for seven years on suspicion of being involved with the Jemaah Islamiah militant group.

News

Tuesday February 26, 2013

Cafeteria worker claims trial to abetting ex-ISA detainee

By MAIZATUL NAZLINA nazlina@thestar.com.my

By MAIZATUL NAZLINA
nazlina@thestar.com.my