SEREMBAN: A Singaporean man was jailed for six months and fined RM6,000 by the Syariah High Court here on Tuesday (Nov 19) on three charges of teaching and spreading false doctrine that are against Syariahlaw last year, Malay language daily Sinar Harian reports.
Judge Zulfikri Yasoa passed the sentence on Idris Ami, 60, a forklift driver, after he pleaded guilty to all the charges.
According to the charges, the accused was found to have spread an act contrary to Sharia law to a group of people known as the Cahaya Group by allowing hugging even though they were of different genders and not mahram (unmarriageable kin).
This was based on the belief that there was no offence from the Syariah point of view because the act was based on the heart's affection, not bodily desires and lust.
In addition, Idris changed his plea to guilty for two charges read out before the Seremban Syariah High Court on Oct 4.
For those charges, Idris was accused of teaching false doctrines to two men aged 42 and 46 by claiming to be the messenger for this era and claiming that he possessed a holy spirit, referring to the spirit of previous prophets from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad.
The offence was committed from September to December 2023 at a house in Kampung Sungai Dua Besar, Kuala Pilah.
The prosecution for all three charges was made under Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Negri Sembilan) 1992 amendment 2019, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail for up to three years or both.
Idris, who was not represented, told the court he had repented and pleaded not to be imprisoned as he wanted to return to his home country and still had to support his children and wife.
"I am a Singaporean citizen who knows nothing about the syariah law violations in this country.
"I respect the people and the country of Malaysia, but I admit my mistake and regret this unintentional error," he said.
The prosecution, represented by Chief Syariah Prosecutor of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Prosecution Department, Raja Mazelan Raja Deraman, said the offence committed by the accused was very serious in terms of faith, which could lead to apostasy, disbelief and polytheism.
The court set a fine of RM2,000 for each charge and also ordered an additional two months imprisonment for each charge if the accused failed to pay it.
He said the accused, as a foreigner, should respect the laws in Malaysia and that a strict and appropriate punishment should be given as a lesson.
The prosecution was also represented by Syariah prosecutors Abdul Wafi Ramli and Mohd Azizuddin Abdullah Halim.
Based on the case facts, the accused was found to be actively spreading his propaganda through several social media platforms including Facebook and Telegram for his followers in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The accused was also found to often exhibit a personality that was not in line with Syariah law to his followers by arbitrarily hugging members who were not mahram as a symbol of meeting and parting each time they met.
