Mar 27, 2016

58 Millah Abraham cult members plead not guilty

MARCH 2016
KHAIRAH N. KARIM

KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-eight suspected members of cult group Millah Abraham claimed trial to charges of involvement in the group at the International Youth Centre (IYC) here in February.

Each of them were called to the dock to record their plea before syarie judge Muhammad Abdul Karim in the proceeding which started at 9.45am today.

The accused, aged between 20 and 59 were granted RM5,000 and RM4,000 bail and ordered to report to the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) once every fortnight.

They were also prohibited from leaving the country without the court's permission.

The court fixed a five-day trial for the case beginning May 30.

On Feb 2, 58 people including 12 women were charged at the Syariah High Court and Lower Court here for their involvement in the group at a function at IYC. However, no plea was recorded at that time.

In the main charge, Farzlie Rahmat, 40, Hamatun Mezi Wahab, 49, and Sehadle Sa'aamah, 35, were charged with attempting to explain a doctrine at a function, which was against Islamic law, by mixing the understanding of the contents of Surah al-Maidah verse 3 in the Quran with the teachings of the Bible, believed to be one of the criteria in the Millah Abraham teaching. They were charged under Section 4 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territories) 1997, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, or jail of not more than 18 months, or six strokes of the rotan, or any combination of the above, if convicted. The trio were also charged with trying to teach Islamic matters relating to the same Surah without authorisation under Section 11 of the same act, which carries a maximum of RM5,000 fine or jail of not more than 18 months, or both upon conviction. At the Syariah lower court, three accused - Nor Azri Baharudin, 48, Mohd Halimin Mohd Nasir, 40, and Mohd Agus Abu Samah, 39 - were alleged to have intentionally assisted the function conducted by Farzlie, Hamatun and Sehadle. They were charged under Section 43(c) of the same act, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail of not more than 18 months, or six strokes of the rotan, or any combination of the punishment, if convicted. Fifty-two of the accused were charged with participating in the function conducted by Farzlie, Hamatun and Sehadle under Section 43(b) of the act, which carries the same sentence upon conviction. All the accused were alleged to have committed the offences in Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, here at 8.32pm on Feb 1.

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/131732/58-millah-abraham-cult-members-plead-not-guilty?m=1

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