Extra month of mental evaluation ordered for Sarawak man found guilty of insulting Islam via social media

A Sarawak court has ordered another month of mental evaluation for a local man who was convicted of insulting Islam, and sentenced to ten years in prison.

High Court judge Azahari Kamal Ramli agreed that further examination and observation was needed of Alister Cogia, who is currently a patient at Kuching’s Sentosa Hospital.

“We have no objection to the application by the hospital,” he said.

Cogia had spent the last month since his sentencing at the medical facility, and the case will be heard for further mention May 16.

His lawyers have also asked for the case proceedings against their client to be reviewed, after he was found guilty of uploading materials deemed offensive to Islam using a Facebook account operated by him with the user name Ayea Yea.

At present, his sentence will see him spend the next ten years in prison, and pay an RM50,000 (US$12,500) fine.




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