Family members of suspect in Johor police station attack charged with inciting terrorism

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA: Five family members suspected of involvement in last month’s Ulu Tiram police station attack, which resulted in the death of two policemen and injury to another, appeared in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru on Wednesday (19 June) on charges related to terrorism.

The accused are Radin Imran Radin Mohd Yassin, 57, Radin Romyullah Radin Imran, 34, Rosna Jantan, 59, Farhah Sobrina Radin Imran, 23, and Mariah Radin Imran, 19.

According to Malaysian state media Bernama, Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim presided over the reading of charges.

However, no pleas were taken as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The charges allege that Radin Imran, father of the suspects, encouraged terrorist acts by promoting ideologies associated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group to his wife Rosna, his sons Radin Luqman Radin Imran, 21, and Radin Romyullah, as well as his daughters Farhah Sobrina and Mariah.

Radin Imran faces additional charges for allegedly supporting terrorist acts by possessing four homemade air rifle-type firearms intended for IS activities, pledging allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi, and possessing a book related to IS.

Abu Bakar was an Iraqi militant who was the first IS caliph from 2014 until his death in 2019.

These offences are said to have occurred at No. 15, Lot 1288, Jalan Rabani, Kampung Sungai Tiram, between the end of 2014 and 17 May.

The charges are under Section 130G(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and a fine; Section 130J(1) of the Penal Code, punishable by life imprisonment or up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine, and confiscation of property used; and Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to seven years imprisonment, a fine, and confiscation of substances upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Radin Romyullah, the suspect’s brother, faces charges of swearing allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi and possessing an external hard drive containing IS-related materials at the same location during the same period.

His charges fall under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, punishable by life imprisonment or up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine, and Section 130JB(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to seven years imprisonment, a fine, and forfeiture of the substance upon conviction.

The suspect’s mother, Rosna, who is a Singaporean citizen, along with his sisters Farhah Sobrina and Mariah, each face a charge of intentionally omitting to provide information about crimes related to terrorism ideology at the same location between April 2017 and 17 May.

They are charged under Section 130M of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The court has scheduled July 31 for the case to be mentioned and for lawyers to be appointed.

Deputy Public Prosecutors from the Serious Crimes Unit of the Putrajaya Attorney General’s Department, Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam and Fazeedah Faik, handled the prosecution, while none of the accused were represented by lawyers.

Earlier, the Johor Bahru Court Complex was heavily guarded by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) starting from 8 am.

The incident occurred on 17 May at 2:45 am when Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, lost their lives in an attack by a masked suspect wielding a machete. Corporal Mohd Hasif Roslan, 38, was injured by a gunshot but was reported stable after treatment at Sultan Ismail Hospital.