Court fixes Oct 21 for next mention of Neelofa, hubby’s SOP violation case

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (right) and his team having a word with the couple outside the court.

SEREMBAN: The Magistrate's Court has set Oct 21 for next mention of the case involving TV host and entrepreneur Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor and her husband Muhammad Haris Mohd Ismail who were charged with violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Lead counsel for the couple Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Magistrate Mahyun Yusof gave the date after case management on Friday (Sept 24) morning.

"I received the documents for both cases as required under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code this morning.

"We will study the contents of the documents and then decide to make a representation or prepare for defence based on what we have," he told reporters when met outside the court.

Neelofa, 32, and Muhammad Haris, 26, were charged at the Magistrate's Court here on May 20.

The couple pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to register their details via the MySejahtera app or manually before entering a carpet shop located at the Nilai 3 Industrial Area at 4pm on May 2 during the movement control order (MCO).

Muhammad Haris also claimed trial to another charge of failing to wear a face mask in a public place at the same place and time.

They were charged under Rule 19 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations (conditional movement order) 2021, which provides a fine of not more than RM50,000, a jail term of not more than six months, or both, upon conviction.

Shafee expressed confidence his clients had a good case.

"This is actually a small matter. It has been turned into an elephant from an ant," he said.

He was assisted by Ramzani Idris, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee and Syahirah Hanapiah. Nor Azizah Aling prosecuted.

On April 27, Neelofa, in a separate case, was issued a compound for failing to observe physical distancing during her wedding ceremony, and for breaching interstate travel regulations by taking part in activities not permitted by the police.

She was fined RM20,000, while her husband was issued a RM10,000 compound notice for breaching interstate travel rules.