KK Mart boss, wife freed

But company and sock vendor fined RM60,000 each

SHAH ALAM: The Sessions Court here has acquitted the founder of KK Supermart & Superstore Group Sdn Bhd (KK Mart), Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai, and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, of a charge of intentionally hurting the feelings of Muslims by putting socks bearing the word “Allah” for sale.

Three others – Soh Chin Huat, 61; Goh Li Huay, 62; and Soh Hui San, 36 – who are the socks supplier company directors, were also acquitted of a similar charge.

However, Sessions Court judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir fined KK Mart and vendor company Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd RM60,000 each for deliberately intending to hurt the feelings of Muslims by displaying socks printed with the word “Allah” on a sales display rack at one of the KK Mart branches.

The judge meted out the fine on the two companies after their representative – KK Mart general manager Tee Kok Hiem, 61, and Hui San – pleaded guilty to the charge.

He gave the companies three days to settle the fine.

“This case has attracted a lot of attention because it involves a religious issue. I want to remind you to be more sensitive in the future, in issues that involve the sensitivity of the Muslim community, or any religion.

“KK Mart also needs to be more responsible, and tighten quality control operations to not let this happen again,” he said yesterday.

Acquitted: Chai (centre) and his wife Loh leaving the Shah Alam Sessions Court.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud informed the court that the prosecution intended to withdraw the charge against Chai and his wife, and the three company directors.

He sought for all the accused to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

Lawyers Rajpal Singh and Fahri Azzat, representing all the accused, requested that their clients be given a full acquittal.

Chai, 57, and Loh, 53, were charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code with intentionally hurting the feelings of Muslims by putting the socks for sale.

Meanwhile, Soh, his wife Goh and daughter Hui San, were all individually charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 298 of the same Code.

All three were accused of abetting the said offence by supplying KK Mart with the socks.

KK Mart and Xin Jian Chang were charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 109 of the Penal Code, respectively.

The accused persons and the companies had sent representations to the Attorney General’s Chambers on May 17 to have their charges dropped.