Comedy club case: No need to charge Siti Nuramira under Syariah law, says prosecution chief

KUALA LUMPUR: The particular Syariah prosecution key has confirmed that Siti Nuramira Abdullah, who is embroiled in the comedy club controversy, would not be prosecuted under the Syariah regulation.

In a declaration issued by the Federal government Territories Syariah Prosecution Department, it stated that the Syariah criminal prosecution chief has made its considerations and decided not to proceed with the prosecution against the 26-year-old.

This was based on the idea of protection under the management of justice and to avoid Siti Nuramira from being arrested in two separate courts that got the same objective associated with punishment over the offence committed, it said.

It stated that the criminal charge against Siti Nuramira under Section 298A of the Penal Code had commenced on the civil court on July 13 which provision provides a heavier punishment.

“This is in line with all the Syariah objective (maqasid) that stresses the particular approach of discipline (ta’dib) in the administration of Syariah criminal law, which is hoped to bring the falsely accused back to Islamic practice, ” it added.

On Wednesday (July 19), Siti Nuramira was released by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) at 10pm after she was arrested earlier in the trip to 10. 30am.

Siti Nuramira was taken away shortly after publishing a RM20, 500 bail for the case at the Sessions Court and expected to end up being charged under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

Section seven refers to the offence of insulting, or bringing into disregard, the religion of Islam.

The particular charge carries an optimum RM3, 000 fine or up to two years jail or both, upon conviction.

On July 13, Siti Nuramira pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for insulting Islam.

According to the charge sheet, Siti Nuramira was accused of insulting Islam by admitting she is Muslim and memorised 15 juz of the Quran before discarding her tudung and baju kurung at the Crackhouse Comedy Club restaurant in Taman Tun Dr Ismail on June 4.

Siti Nuramira has been charged under Area 298A of the Penal Code with leading to disharmony, disunity, or even feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of tranquility or unity, on grounds of religious beliefs.

She is facing a maximum five years imprisonment, on conviction.