07 Januari 2010

Hearing of Dr Asri's case deferred to May 3

20 Muharram 1431H

GOMBAK, Jan 5: The high-profile case involving former Perlis Mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin, charged with teaching Islam in Selangor without authorization, has been deferred to May 3 pending the decision of the Syariah High Court on whether it or a lower court should hear the matter.

"After hearing the submissions from the prosecution and defence on the transfer issue, the application for which is under review, this court allows the postponement,” Judge Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad of the Gombak Timur Syariah court ruled on Tuesday.

"This postponement is made to resolve the case amicably for the good of the Muslim community."

Bid to erode his growing influence?

Dr Asri was charged under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2003, which carries the penalty of a fine of up to RM3,000 or jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

The 38-year old, who has stirred controversy with his views on Islam, was allegedly giving a religious talk or ceramah at a friend's house in Taman Ukay, Ulu Klang in November when 35 officers from the Selangor Religious Affairs Department (JAIS) and 25 policemen burst on the scene.

Their sensational attempt to arrest him was seen by many as a bid by Islamic hardliners to embarrass him and to erode his growing influence amongst the young and the professionals.

He has pleaded not guilty and was released on a RM3,000 bond in two sureties. His lawyers, led by Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman, had applied to transfer the case to the Syariah High Court in Shah Alam. However, their request was rejected by Mayuddin, who ruled that the lower court in Gombak Timur had the jurisdiction to make a decision.

Later on December 10, Syariah chief prosecutor Abdul Shukor Abdul Hamid filed for judicial review of Mahyuddin's decision to retain the case at his court.

"We are applying to the court to postpone the hearing of this case while waiting for the decision of the Shah Alam Syariah High Court,” said Abdul Shukor.

Asri's lawyers did not object to the postponement.

HarakahDaily.Net/-

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