[UAPA] Mumbai Court accepts guilty plea of ISIS recruiters, orders 8 years imprisonment

A Special Court in Mumbai under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act on Friday sentenced two Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) operatives to eight years rigorous imprisonment after they pleaded guilty for offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)..The two accused, Mohsin Sayyed and Rizwan Ahmed had been in prison since 2016 and Special Judge AT Wankhede specified that the time already served in the prison would be included in the sentence ordered.The Court also imposed a fine of ₹35,000 on each convict..Sayyed and Ahmed were accused of trying to radicalise Muslim youths to join the ISIS. A case was registered against them in 2015 and NIA filed its chargesheet in 2016.They were charged for offences under Sections 18 (conspiracy), 20, 38 and 39 (member of terrorist organisation) of the UAPA and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code..The trial had begun and so far about 35 witnesses had been examined against the two and the chargesheet named over 200. Looking at the slow pace at which the trial was proceeding, the two filed an application before the special court seeking leave to plead guilty.They submitted that they were young when they came under the influence of the ISIS and were unaware of the consequences of their actions.They prayed for the plea to be accepted and that sentence be set off by the 6 years already spent in prison so that they can reform and return to the mainstream of the society..Advocate AR Bukhari representing them, informed the Court that the conduct of the two accused had been satisfactory in prison. He prayed for a shortest possible sentence against the two considering factors like no criminal antecedents..However, this was vehemently opposed by Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Shetty who submitted that this sentence ought to set an example for people who radicalise youth.He argued that though the accused had shown remorse, their pleading guilty could be used an escape from the sentence..After accepting the plea of guilt, Special Judge sentenced the duo to 8 years in prison with fine. In the event, the fine is not paid, the two will have to serve some more months in prison.