An independent preacher has pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing nude photographs and pornographic videos on two mobile phones.
Faridul Firdaus Zaulkapli, 40, allegedly committed the offences at 6.15pm on July 1 last year at the Criminal Investigation Department’s Special Investigation Division at the Shah Alam district police headquarters.
The charges were framed under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum three-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Faridul, dressed in a blue long-sleeved batik shirt and songkok, entered his plea after the charges were read out before Magistrate Cynthia Noor Haizean Sulaiman.
“I plead not guilty,” he said, as his two wives watched from the public gallery.
Faridul and his wives arrived at the court at 8am and waited in the last row of the public gallery before proceedings began at noon.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Alya Zaphfirah Al Zaphni applied for bail of RM8,000 with one surety for both charges.
However, defence lawyer A. Naveenthiran asked the court to impose a lower bail, saying Faridul had no stable income and relied on public donations.
“He supports his two wives and 11 children, aged between two months and 15, as well as his parents.
“He cooperated with the authorities when investigations began one-and-a-half years ago.
“He is not a flight risk and there is no evidence that he had interfered with witnesses,” he said.
After hearing both sides, Cynthia Noor Haizean granted bail of RM5,000 with one surety for both charges.
The court fixed Oct 27 for mention.
