Justice Noorin Badaruddin handed down the sentence on Mahadi Mamat, 39, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubts against the charges.
The court sentenced Mahadi to 10 years in prison for each of the first, second, third and seventh charges; six years in prison for the fourth charge; and five years in prison for the fifth, sixth and eighth charges.
Mahadi was ordered to serve the jail sentences concurrently from the date of arrest on May 5, 2019, meaning he will be jailed for only 10 years.
In the judgment, Noorin said the court was satisfied that the accused had failed to prove “legal insanity”.
She also said the court was satisfied with the testimony given by the second defence witness, Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta psychiatric consultant Ian Lloyd Anthony, regarding Mahadi’s mental state.
She said the accused had hidden the weapons and pipe bombs, which clearly showed he knew what he was doing.
“The court found that although the accused has schizophrenia or a mental disorder, the accused was sane when the offences were committed,” she said.
“The testimony by the second defence witness showed that the accused was sane. Based on observation by the witness, the accused’s mental cognitive functions were well when committing the offence,” she said.
“After examining the WhatsApp messages with the members of the ‘Sejati Sejiwa’ group, I found that the accused understood and knew the consequences (of his actions) and also in the way he persuaded members of the WhatsApp group to join him.”
According to the first and second charges, Mahadi was alleged to have sought support for a terrorist act by making threats to attack the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Subang Jaya, and threatening to kill four Malaysian citizens, via the ‘Sejati Sejiwa’ WhatsApp group.
The charges were framed under Section 130J (1) (b) of the Penal Code (Act 574), which is punishable with imprisonment for life or a term not exceeding 30 years, or with a fine, and also liable to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of the offence, upon conviction.
For the third charge, Mahadi was alleged to have provided firearms training to members of the “Sejati Sejiwa” WhatsApp group to commit a terrorist act.
The charge, under Section 130F (a) of the Penal Code (Act 574), provides a maximum jail term of 30 years and a fine, if convicted.
For the fourth charge, he was alleged to have ordered the group members to commit a terrorist act and he was charged under Section 130F (b) of the Penal Code (Act 574) which carries a maximum imprisonment of 30 years and a fine, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, for the fifth and sixth charges, Mahadi was alleged to have obtained six pipe bombs, a semi-automatic CZ 75 B pistol and 15 Luger 9mm bullets to commit terrorist acts.
He was charged under Section 130JD (1) of the Penal Code (Act 574) which carries a maximum jail term of seven years and a fine.
For the seventh charge, framed under Section 130E of the Penal Code, he was alleged to have recruited several individuals to join the “Sejati Sejiwa” WhatsApp group to commit terrorist acts.
The law provides a maximum jail term of 30 years and a fine upon conviction.
On the last charge, Mahadi was alleged to have had in his possession items related to the terrorist group Daesh in a mobile phone and he was charged under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code (Act 574). The offence carries a maximum jail term of seven years and a fine, and the offender shall also be liable to forfeiture of any such item upon conviction.