Siblings allowed final appeal in church arson conviction

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 18 — Two brothers, both sentenced to a five-year jail term each for an arson attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church in 2010, may proceed with their final appeal against the conviction and sentence, Bernama Online reported today.

The news portal said a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Datuk Sulaiman Daud set February 13 to hear the appeal brought by Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and his younger brother, Raja Muhammad Idzham.

This represents the brothers’ final appeal after the High Court on May 27 last year upheld the decision of the Sessions Court.

Despatch rider Raja Muhammad Faizal, 25, and Raja Muhammad Idzham, 23, a bank employee, were both sentenced to a five-year jail term each after they were found guilty by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on August 13, 2010, of causing mischief by torching the church at Jalan 4/4c, Desa Melawati at 11.50 pm on January 7, 2010. They were charged along with several others who are still at large.

Raja Muhammad Faizal and Raja Muhammad Idzham were allowed bail of RM20,000 each by the Sessions Court, pending disposal of their appeal.

On July 30, 2010, the brothers’ friend, Azuwan Shah Ahmad, 24, who was jointly charged with them, was freed by the Sessions Court without his defence being called.