THE Kuching High Court will hear on Wednesday arguments by lawyers seeking a review of court proceedings that led to a Facebook user being jailed 10 years for insulting Islam.

A team of PKR lawyers, headed by Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, this morning filed “urgent” papers for the review, through Francis Teron Kadap & Co.

Apart from See, the firm’s principal, Francis Teron, and counsel Desmond Kho and Jeffery Mok are in the team, which doubts that the Kuching Sessions Court’s decision to mete out a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a RM50,000 fine to 22-year-old Alister Cogia took into account his alleged psychiatric condition.

Alister, who was unrepresented, last Friday pleaded guilty before sessions court judge Jason Juga to uploading on Facebook offensive materials on Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

See assembled the legal team after Alister’s family sought help, claiming he suffers from behavioural difficulties and requires psychiatric advice and therapy.

Alister’s mother, Alen Rigod, said the family were denied permission to meet him when he was under remand.

See earlier said Alister was not informed that he needed to appear in court last week, causing him to be unrepresented.

“There is doubt whether Alister understood the gravity of the charges and the significance of his guilty plea.”

The rep and his team are applying for the case to be recalled so they can request that the court seek the opinion of a psychiatrist.

Alen said her son, the second of five children, has been suffering from mental illness since young.

She said Alister dropped out of school after Form One, adding that he frequently locks himself up in his room and occasionally shouts when he is alone.

It was reported that doctors asked him to undergo a psychiatric examination at Sentosa Hospital last month, but he refused to get a referral letter from Bau Hospital.

Alister was questioned by police two weeks ago, and initially released without being charged. Officers returned for him on March 3. – March 11, 2019.