Syariah court acquits Asri, ticks off Jais

Charge of preaching without credentials against the ex-Perlis mufti thrown out and Judge Shaiful Azli reprimands the Islamic department for shoddy investigation.

PETALING JAYA: The Gombak Syariah Court today acquitted former Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin on charges of preaching without credentials in Selangor, back in 2009.

In his verdict, Judge Shaiful Azli said that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the accused and reprimanded the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) for shoddy investigation.

In 2009, the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) accused Asri of preaching without credentials at a house in Taman Sri Ukay on Nov 1.

Subsequently, he was charged under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Administration Enactment 2003, which carries a two year imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM3,000, or both.

Chiding Jais for Asri’s arrest, judge Shaiful said that the Islamic authority should conduct proper investigations before taking someone to court.

“The prosecution’s star witness cannot even remember what Asri had said on the mentioned day. On top of that, he was one of the officers involved in the raid.

“The court finds that the Jais did not conduct thorough investigation and raid was conducted in a haste,” he said.

Meanwhile, media reports quoted Asri saying that religious authorities should be more careful before accusing someone of preaching without proper credentials.

“And I’m sure Jais knows that I used to serve as mufti in Perlis,” said Asri.