File picture of a police officer on duty outside a London house. Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) said today it will allow Nur Fitri Azmeer Noordin to continue his studies in Malaysia after he serves his sentence in the UK to give him a second chance. — AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — After rescinding his loan, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) said today it will allow Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin to continue his studies in Malaysia after he serves his sentence for possession of child pornography.

According to MStar, MARA council member Nazir Hussin Akhtar Hussin said the offer was to offer support for the 23-year-old scholar described in reports as a “Malaysian math genius” and give him a second chance.

“In unofficial discussions, council members and the MARA chairman have agreed to give him a second chance after he serves his sentence.

“We will support him in any way possible to help him rebuild his character and one way is to give him a chance to study in any MARA institution,” he was quoted saying in the news portal.

Nazir also reportedly said that the same treatment would be extended to all other high achievers sponsored by MARA if they were to get entangled in similar situations.

“Any individual who repents for a mistake should be given a second chance after being punished especially among gifted students who can become national assets,” he was quoted saying.

He added that Nur Fitri has also reportedly shown good conduct, according to UK prison officials.

“He is a smart student and it is a pity to waste someone who can be an asset to the country,” Nazir said in the MStar report that was reproduced in English on The Star Online.

According to British media last week, Nur Fitri, who was studying on a MARA scholarship at Imperial College London, one of the world’s top universities, was found to be in possession of over 30,000 videos and photographs of child pornography.

Police who raided his home in London found the 23-year-old sitting beside a life-sized mannequin of a young boy. He reportedly possessed 601 “Category A” videos and images, which depicted abuse involving penetrative sexual acts with children.

MARA subsequently announced that it had cancelled Nur Fitri’s loan after confirming that it had suspended funds for the student in November last year when he was first arrested by the London Metropolitan Police.

MARA also said that according to British law, a foreigner who has served two thirds of his sentence is eligible to be deported to his home country, and claimed this would be within four weeks of Nur Fitri’s conviction date.

It is unclear how MARA arrived at the conclusion, as according to British media reports, Nur Fitri was sentenced to five years’ jail in the UK last Friday.

Yesterday, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said his minister is considering appealing for a lighter sentence for Nur Fitri.