Siti Nuramira fined RM8k in stand-up comedy case

 

Siti Nuramira Abdullah was fined RM8,000 in lieu of four months in jail over her controversial stand-up routine last year.

The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur this morning handed down the sentence after the accused pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of intentionally hurting the religious feelings of others. She has paid the fine and left the court.

According to the alternative charge under Section 298 of the Penal Code, she committed the offence by announcing that she was a Muslim who memorised 15 juzuk of the Quran and then taking off her tudung and baju kurung, while on stage at the Crackhouse Comedy Club restaurant at Taman Tun Dr Islamil, Kuala Lumpur, at 6pm on June 4 last year.

With today’s outcome, the prosecution would not be proceeding with the main case against Siti Nuramira (above) under Section 298A of the Penal Code, a provision that deals with the offence of causing disharmony, disunity, enmity, hatred, ill-will, or prejudicing maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion, between persons or groups of persons professing the same or different religions.

Her counsel Ramesh NP Chandran confirmed the outcome, adding that his client feels remorse and wants to move on with her life as she is now married.

The lawyer added that earlier today, judge N Priscilla Hemamalini convicted Siti Nuramira over the alternative charge.

Last year, a video of Siti Nuramira taking off her headscarf and baju kurung on stage at a comedy club went viral on social media.

Later on July 13 last year, Siti Nuramira claimed trial to the charge under Section 298A.

The 27-year-old's trial over the Section 298A case was previously part heard in full trial, with a prosecution witness testifying that Siti Nuramira violated the unwritten rule against touching on any of the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) during her stand-up routine.