Three individuals were sentenced to one month in jail and fined RM2,000 by the Batu Pahat Syariah Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to taking part in a kuda kepang dance ritual worship ceremony on August 10 and 11.
The accused, 35-year-old security guard Muhammad Suhail Suttrysono, along with two mechanics, 45-year-old Azman Mohamer Seh and 40-year-old Anuar Bandi, admitted their offenses after the charges were read separately before Syariah Judge Syazwan Mohd Yusof.
According to the charges, Muhammad Suhail conducted the ritual in violation of Syariah law, while Azman and Anuar were accused of aiding the act by playing musical instruments for the ceremony.
The offenses took place in an open area in front of a house in Parit Raja between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on August 10 and 11.
The prosecution was made under Section 3 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offenses Enactment 1997 for violations related to faith, specifically wrongful worship, and Section 43(b) for aiding and abetting. The law provides a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM3,000, or both.
The case was prosecuted by Syariah Prosecutor Ummu Salamah Sukayat.
