KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) says it is just as concerned as PKR over the heavy sentence meted out to a man for insulting Islam.
Alister Cogia, 22, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to uploading offensive materials about Islam and Prophet Muhammad on social media.
“Of course we do not condone anyone speaking ill of any religion but there appears an injustice element in the case,” said SUPP Youth chief Michael Tiang at a press conference here earlier today.
“First, the man was not represented, and we were told he may not be in his right mind.”
He added: “Secondly, the 10 years and 10 months are too severe to commensurate the nature of the offence. The case appears to be a rush job where there was an announcement of a kampung boy insulting Islam and then suddenly, the news was out that he was jailed so heavily.”
Stating that only death sentence charges were allowed to have free legal aid, Tiang pointed out that in this case, there was no time for anyone to react to assist the boy.
He said Alister was entitled to have someone to represent him in court.
Tiang was then told that PKR lawyer See Chee How had contacted the boy’s mother to offer assistance.
“This morning, I contacted YB See and he said he would assist the boy to appeal against the sentence.
Since he has taken up the case, we will leave it to him,” said Tiang, adding that if there was any help needed from SUPP’s legal team, they would oblige.
“In time of need, we put aside politics and render assistance to those in need.”
