Former Terengganu syarie chief judge Datuk Ismail Yahya pleaded not guilty in the Syariah Court here today to two counts of insulting and questioning the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council’s (Maidam) authority and the Sultan of Terengganu’s instruction on Maidam’s restructuring.
In the first charge, Ismail, 57, was accused of insulting Maidam in a letter to the State Secretary.
In the second charge, in a letter to the State Secretary, he allegedly questioned the consent given by the Sultan as the head of Islam on Maidam’s restructuring as stated in the minutes of Maidam’s fifth meeting on Oct 21, 2012.
Both letters allegedly dated Oct 29 last year with a mailing address at the Terengganu Syariah Department.
Ismail was charged under Section 10 of the Terengganu Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) Act 2001 which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine up to RM3,000 or both, upon conviction.
Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail granted RM800 bail with one surety to Ismail for each charge and set Feb 26 next year for trial.
Syarie chief prosecutor Syarie Mustafar Hamzah prosecuted. – Bernama
