Woman Charged With Supporting IS Militant Group

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Oct 31 (Bernama) -- A woman was charged in the Sessions Court here Friday with giving support to the so-called IS militant group. Ummi Khalsom Bahok, 25, (right in picture) an assistant credit controller, was accused of having committed the offence at an Immigration counter at the departure hall of the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) at 5.20 am on Oct 5. She was to have boarded an AirAsia flight to Brunei Darussalam and then flown on to Istanbul to get married to one Aqif Huessin Rahaiza (rpt) Aqif Huessin Rahaiza, a member of the IS. Ummi Khalsom, who was not represented, was charged under Section 130J(1)(a) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same code. She also faced an alternative charge of flying AirAsia from klia2 to Brunei Darussalam to give support to IS by entering Syria after flying from Brunei Darussalam to Istanbul and to get married to Aqif Huessin for the benefit of the militant group. Ummi Khalsom can be imprisoned for life or up to 30 years, or fined, and is liable to forfeiture of any property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of the offence, upon conviction. No plea was recorded for both the charges. Judge Aizatul Akmal Maharani set Nov 20 for mention for the case to be transferred to the High Court. The charge does not have provision for bail. Ummi Khalsom, who was attired in black robes and a veil, was seen to be calm and nodded to indicate she understood the charge read out by a court interpreter. Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Sharuddin Wan Ladin appeared for the prosecution. (photoBernama) -- BERNAMA