Ex-convict charged with possession of terrorism-related materials

KOTA BHARU: An ex-convict was charged in Sessions Court here with four counts of possessing materials related to the Daesh terrorist group.

Nik Mohd Shalahuddin Zakaria, 40, who had served a three-year sentence for a similar offence, nodded after the charges were read out before Judge Zulkifli Abllah on Sunday (July 21).

However, no plea was recorded as the case is under the High Court’s jurisdiction.

On the first two charges, Nik Mohd Shalahuddin is alleged to have items related to terrorist acts and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which includes 1,020 photos, 26 videos and 321 articles in the form of a “portable document format” (PDF) file in a mobile phone.

Similar items, comprising 378 photos, 36 videos and 244 articles in a PDF file, were also found in another mobile phone.

Both offences were committed in Kampung Senang, Kota Jembal, here at approximately 9.15 am last June 10.

The charges were framed under Section 130JB(1) of the Penal Code.

For the third charge, the man was alleged to have given support to the IS terrorist group through Facebook under the name of Ahmad Saif Al-Islam Il.

The act was detected at 1015pm on June 10 at the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The charge was framed under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code.

Nik Mohd Shalahuddin was charged with being a member of the IS group by performing the “Baiah” (oath of allegiance) ceremony in Kampung Senang, Kota Jembal, here, last June 10.

The charge was also framed under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Shafiq Hasim appeared for the prosecution, while Nik Mohd Shalahuddin was unrepresented.

No bail was offered to the accused as provided under Section 13 of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

The court set Aug 19 for mention and also to decide on the prosecution’s application to transfer the case hearing to the Kuala Lumpur High Court. – BK