Facing the law: (From left) Muhammad Suhail, Anuar and Azman being escorted at the Syariah Court in Batu Pahat. — Bernama
BATU PAHAT: Three men pleaded guilty in the Syariah Court here for being part of a deviant worship ceremony that was recorded on a video titled Show Puja Jin Batu Pahat (Worshipping Batu Pahat Jin show).
The ceremony also featured the kuda kepang dance, which Johor religious authorities have in the past declared as containing elements that are contrary to Islamic teachings.
Muhammad Suhail Suttrysono, 35, Azman Mohamed Seh, 45, and Anuar Bandi, 40, entered their guilty plea after the charge was read out before Syariah Judge Syazwan Mohd Yusof yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Suhail, a security guard, and Azman, a mechanic, were accused of performing a deviant worship ceremony, which is an offence under Section 3 of the Johor State Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM3,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, if convicted, Bernama reported.
Anuar was charged with abetting the ceremony by acting as a gendang player.
Under Section 43(b) of the same enactment, this offence carries a punishment equivalent to that for the main offence.
All three were charged with committing the offence between 10pm and 1am in an open area at a house on Jalan Pasar, Parit Raja, on Aug 10.
Johor Chief Syariah Prosecutor Ahmad Wafi Abdullah appeared for the prosecution, while all the accused were unrepresented.
In his submission, Ahmad Wafi called for a deterrent sentence, arguing that the act involved a matter of akidah, or faith, that cannot be compromised by Muslims, unlike a moral offence such as khalwat (close proximity).
He said Muhammad Suhail, who was directly involved in the ceremony, had been performing the kuda kepang since he was 14.
This was despite the fact that he attended basic religious classes up to Standard Six and had been advised several times to stop performing.
The court granted the three accused bail of RM2,000 each, with two sureties from family members residing in Batu Pahat.
The court set Sept 2 for sentencing.
