KUCHING: Alister Cogia, the man sentenced to 10 years’ jail for insulting Islam, is to undergo mental observation.
Kuching High Court judge Azahari Kamal Ramli issued the order after a legal team made up of Francis Teron, See Chee How, Desmond Kho, Jeffery Mok and Chai Pei Chen filed an application for a revision of the case yesterday.
Alister, 22, will be assessed at Hospital Sentosa, a psychiatric hospital, near here for a month.
See told the media after the hearing that he and his colleagues questioned the sentence meted out on Alister, including his confession.
“If it is proven that Alister’s mental health is abnormal, then there is no need to impose such a harsh sentence,” the Batu Lintang assemblyman said.
Appearing for the prosecution were DPPs Isa Hassim, Musli Abdul Hamid and Hayda Faridzal Abu Hasan.
In addition, Sarawak Advocates Association’s Orlando Chua appeared as amicus curae (friend of the court).
Hearing will resume on April 16.
Alister pleaded guilty last Friday to uploading offensive materials on Islam and Prophet Muhammad on his Facebook account ‘Ayea Yea’.
He was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined RM50,000.
