09 October 2012 | last updated at 08:16AM
Somalis to face different charge
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will record the guilty plea of seven Somalis to another charge of shooting at Malaysian commandos in the Gulf of Aden last year, on Oct 18.
Initially, the Somalis were charged under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 which provides for a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
However, the alternative charge made under Section 32(1)(a) of the Firearms Act provides for only imprisonment of up to 14 years.
The alternative charge was offered to the Somalis following a representation by the defence to strike out the (initial charge) which was rejected by the attorney-general.
Defence lawyer Imran Hadzlie Abd Hamid said the prosecution later offered a plea bargain for an alternative charge under Section 32(1)(a) of the Firearms Act.
When the case came up for mention yesterday, judge Kamardin Hashim set Oct 18 as the date for the seven Somalians to record their guilty plea after the prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutor Yusaimi Amir Abd Karim made a request for a new date in respect of the case.
Yusaimi said on that day, the prosecution would submit an alternative charge against all the accused for the court to record their plea. Bernama
