JERTIH, TERENGGANU, Mon. The three wives of “Sky Kingdom” sect leader Ariffin Mohamad, or Ayah Pin, were charged in the Syariah Lower Court today with not adhering to the state fatwa which had ruled that Ayah Pin’s teachings were deviant.
Che Jaharah Awang, 45, Ruzilan Mukhtar, 41, and Nik Kamariah Nik Pah, his second, third and fourth wives, respectively, were charged under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offence Enactment (Takzir) 2001. No pleas were recorded.
Syariah prosecuting officer Mustafar Hamzah applied to the court to release the women on RM3,000 bail in one surety each.
However, judge Wan Abdul Malik Wan Sidik set bail at RM1,500 and fixed mention on Nov 22.
If found guilty, they face a jail term of not more than two years or a fine not exceeding RM3,000, or both.
The women were detained at Kampung Sungai Pinang, Tumpat, in Kelantan and were sent to the Jertih police station yesterday morning.