October 21, 2009 19:35 PM

"Malay Prophet" Jailed 10 Years, Sentenced Six Strokes Of Rotan And Fined RM16,500

SHAH ALAM, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The leader of a deviationist Muslim sect, Abdul Kahar Ahmad, who had proclaimed himself a 'Rasul Melayu' (Malay prophet) was today sentenced to 10 years in jail, fined RM16,500 and ordered to be caned six times by the Syariah High Court here after pleading guilty to five amended charges under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995.

Syarie Judge Abu Zaky Mohammad also ordered Abdul Kahar, 59 to be sent for rehabilitation at the 'Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman' centre in Hulu Yam Baharu near here at the time of his last six months of his prison term.

The charges under Section 8 (a), 7 (1), 12 (c), 10 (b) and 13 (1) of the enactment carry a fine of RM21,000 and maximum jail sentence of 13 years and whipping.

The court ordered that the sentences be served consecutively from the date of his arrest on Sept 16.

Abdul Kahar was sentenced to three years jail and six strokes of the cane for a charge under Section 7 for spreading false doctrine by saying that praying was only enough to prevent doing despicable and sinful acts and that the 'Haj' was useless and wasteful.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined RM4,500 or a year in jail for the offence of proclaiming himself as Malay prophet when the prolaimation was false and against the teachings of Islam, under Section 8(a).

The accused was also sentenced to two years jail and fined RM4,500 or a year's jail for an offence under Section 10.

For an offence under Section 12 for insulting religious officials by going against the Mufti's orders, Abdul Kahar was sentenced to a year in jail and fined RM3,000 or a year in jail.

He was sentenced to two years in jail and fined RM4,500 or a year in jail for an offence under Section 13.

Abdul Kahar, who is unemployed, committed all the offences at No. 44, Jalan Bunga Ros, Kampung Kemensah, Hulu Klang between May 19 and Jun 23, 2005.

After the sentence was passed, Abdul Kahar, who was standing in the dock, remained calm while his family members sobbed and hugged.

Judge Abu Zaky, who took almsot two hours to read the 55-page judgement, said the court in passing sentence saw the seriousness of the case besides placing importance on public interest.

He said the court needed to weigh a sentence that can be preventive and educate not just the accused but Muslims to not commit such offences.

"On the accused's claim that he was ignorant and not highly educated, the court feels that the accused should not spread matters that go against the teachings on Islam and the court believes he a sane adult and can think.

"At the age of 59, the accused should show his maturity, but his actions are very difficult to accepted by the court, more so he has been a Muslim from birth, has a family and as a head of family needed to be responsible to ensure his family prayed five times, but instead he poked fun at Islam's teachings and proclaimed himself as a Malay prophet," he said.

On Abdul Kahar's confession that he had repented his actions, Abu Zaky said he felt that the accused only said so after being arrested and brought before the court.

He hoped that Abdul Kahar would use his time at the rehabilitation centre to repent, learn more about Islam and correct himself.

The prosecution was represented by the Selangor syarie chief prosecutor Abdul Shukor Abd Hamid and Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) prosecuting officers Muhamad Nazri Basrawi and Zusyarafain Md Yusof while syarie lawyer represented the accused.

-- BERNAMA

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