14 hours ago
Two Bangladeshi men charged with terrorism-related offences
JOHOR BARU: Two Bangladeshis were charged in the Sessions Court here today with offences related to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
The two men, Md Mamun Ali, 31, and Md Refat Bishat, 27, did not fully understand the charges read to them separately before judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
The factory operators said they only "understood a little".
The prosecution then requested that the case be postponed to another date to allow a Bangladeshi interpreter to be present for the charges to be read again.
According to the charge sheet, Mamun was accused of knowingly supporting a terrorist group via Facebook under the name Sahifulla Islam between July 28, 2023, and April 30, 2024.
He was charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which provides for a punishment of life imprisonment or a maximum of 40 years, or a fine, and forfeiture of any property used, if convicted.
Refat, meanwhile, was charged with possessing a picture of the IS flag on a phone at a house in Jalan Datin Halimah, Larkin Industrial Estate, on July 10.
He was charged under Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years or a fine and forfeiture of the materials, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutors Maryam Jamielah Ab Manaff and Nur Ainaa Ridzwan prosecuted, while both men were unrepresented.
The court set Sep 12 for mention to appoint a Bangladeshi interpreter.
