BESUT, Aug 23 (Bernama) — A former private college student Tuesday pleaded guilty in the Lower Syariah Court here to disobeying the orders of the Terengganu religious affairs department to being a member of the Ayah Pin deviationist sect.
Syariah Judge Wan Abdul Malik Wan Sidek released Marianna Salim, 22, of Hulu Klang, Selangor, on a one-year good behaviour bond and ordered her to be under the observation of the Besut district religious office.
Marianna, unrepresented, was among scores of people found at the residence of Ariffin Mohamad, 65, or better known as Ayah Pin, in Kampung Batu 13, Mukim Tenang, Hulu Besut, when religious department officials raided the premises at 5.30pm on July 2.
She was charged under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Discretionary Penalty) (Terengganu) 2001 which carries a maximum fine of RM3,000 or two years’ jail or both, upon conviction.
Chief Syariah Prosecutor Mustafar Hamzah prosecuted.
Wan Abdul Malik said the sentence imposed on Marianna was to make her realise her action deviated from Islam as Ayah Pin’s teaching had been declared deviant.
He said Marianna was still young, should repent and not repeat the mistake by assuming that visiting Ayah Pin’s commune could solve various problems.
Earlier, before passing sentence, Marianna cried and said she went to the commune known as “Sky Kingdom” to seek solace after her parents had divorced.
She went to the commune after being informed by a friend that she could get peace there.
“Before this, I am unaware it is a deviationist teaching place. I am only informed of it after the arrest,” she said.
Nineteen other followers, including Ayah Pin’s fourth wife, Nik Kamariah Nik Pa, and former member of the Def Gab C singing group, Rosli Abdul Samad, who were brought to court Tuesday to face a similar charge, claimed trial.
Wan Abdul Malik fixed Nov 15 for mention and extended the RM1,000 bail until that date.
The court also issued an arrest warrant to Sulaiman Abu Hassan, 41, for failing to turn up in court and jumping bail.
Of the 19, 16 were represented by counsel Abdullah Mohamad and Fazrul Anuar Yusof while the rest were unrepresented.
Nik Kamariah, 33, and two others, Wan Noriah Wan Ali, 50, and Sulaiman Takrib, 56, face another charge under Section 14 (1) (B) of the same enactment for possessing two video compact discs featuring acts deviating from the true Islamic teaching at the same premises on the same day.
They pleaded not guilty.
Wan Abdul Malik fixed Dec 6 for re-mention of the case.