Fifty-eight individuals pleaded not guilty in the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur today to charges in connection with the spread of a religious doctrine known as the Millah Ibrahim @ Abraham teachings.
They comprised 12 women and 46 men, aged between 19 and 59 and who included students.
Syariah Judge Abdul Karim Wahab allowed them bail of either RM4,000 in one surety or RM5,000 in two sureties each and ordered them to report themselves at the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department every two weeks.
They were also ordered to obtain the court's approval to go overseas.
Last February 2, they were charged in the Syariah High and Lower Courts here with the offences, but no plea was recorded.
According to the charge, three of them – Farzlie Rahmat, 40, Hamatun Mezi Wahab, 49, and Sehadle Sa'aamah, 35 – were charged with attempting to explain a religious doctrine or belief which contravened the principles of syariah law by mixing up the contents of the Quran and the Bible, which was found to be among the features in the teachings of Millah Ibrahim @ Abraham.
They were alleged to have committed the offence in Sakura Room, International Youth Centre at No. 1, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras at 8.32pm last February 1.
The charge, under Section 4 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territories) 1997, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail term of up to 18 months or whipping not exceeding six strokes, or a combination of two penalties, upon conviction.
They were also charged with trying to teach Islam without credentials at the same time, date and place under Section 11 of the same Act, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or 18 months' jail or both.
Nine others were charged with abetment by jointly participating in the programme conducted by Farzlie, Hamatun Mezi and Sehadle to commit the same offence at the same place, time and date.
They were Zaitullailati Taslim, 31; Adly Azman, 24; Aszrul Nizam Zainal Badol Nizam, 22; Mohd Nazari Buang, 39; Mohd Saad Ghazali, 35; Muhamad Arif Afrison, 24; Muhammad Hasif Che Kemarudin, 27; Muhammad Razeeq Iskandar Ruslanno, 20, and Muhammad Shawaluddin Shafar, 27.
The other 43 individuals were also charged with abetment by jointly participating in the programme conducted by Farzlie, Hamatun Mezi and Sehadle
The prosecution was conducted by Syariah prosecuting officer Zainor Rashid Hassin. – Bernama, March 8, 2016.
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