KUALA LUMPUR: A Bangladeshi man was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the High Court here today after pleading guilty to supporting the Islamic State group through the social media platform Facebook.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid imposed the sentence on 29-year-old restaurant worker Mohammad Didarul Alam, and ordered that the jail term take effect from the date of his arrest on July 21.
“The accused is also ordered to be deported to his home country upon completing his prison sentence,” Azhar said during the proceedings.
Mohammad Didarul was charged with providing support to the group by using a Facebook account under the name Al Mubin Islam at the Special Branch’s E8M (Counter-Terrorism) Division, 24th Floor, Tower 2, Royal Malaysia Police headquarters, Bukit Aman, at 8 am on May 27, 2024.
The charge was framed under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment or a fine, with any property used in committing the offence liable to forfeiture.
According to the case facts, police investigations revealed that the accused had used his Facebook account to promote the terrorist group by posting and sharing photos, videos, and other related content.
An analysis report by a Bengali translator further confirmed that the accused had disseminated propaganda videos, statements, and images linked to the terrorist organisation through his Facebook account.
Deputy public prosecutor Aftal Mariz Mahamed urged the court to impose a substantial sentence to serve as a deterrent to the accused and other foreign nationals, particularly those involved in terrorist-related activities.
“The accused has no prior criminal record, but this is a serious offence that poses a threat to national security,” he said.
However, Mohammad Didarul, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, stating that he had been supporting his family and parents in Bangladesh.
“I came to Malaysia to work, and I apologise for my mistake,” he said in Bengali, which was translated by an interpreter.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
