PASIR MAS: A labourer pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here today to trespassing and desecrating a mosque in Tumpat, by splashing a foul-smelling liquid at the premises early this month.
S. Manjesh Singh, 38, entered the plea after the charges were read out before Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali.
On the first charge, he was accused of breaking a window and damaging the carpet by splashing the foul-smelling liquid, an act considered offensive to Muslims, at the Al-Aziz Al-Hadi Mosque in Kota SPP Warisan, Tumpat, at 4.35am last Oct 5.
The charge was framed under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
He was also charged with trespassing into the mosque with the intent to commit an offence at the same time and place.
The charge, under Section 448 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of three years, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Zharifah Insyirah Zahari prosecuted, while lawyer Noor Suhadah Mohamed Ripim, from the National Legal Aid Foundation, represented the accused.
The court allowed Manjesh Singh bail of RM8,000 for both charges and fixed Nov 23 for sentencing.
Manjesh Singh was also charged with administering methamphetamine into his body at the Tumpat District Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office at 1am on Oct 17.
The court granted him bail of RM2,500 for the drug charge and fixed Jan 20 next year for the submission of the chemistry report. - Bernama
