Housewife gets 6 months’ jail, RM15,000 fine for blasphemy
IPOH: A housewife was sentenced to six months in prison and fined RM15,000 by the magistrate’s court here yesterday after she was found guilty of three counts of provoking the religious sensitivities of Muslims in May last year.
In her judgment, magistrate Siti Hanum Md Sah said the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt.
Tham Yut Mooi, 46, was charged with uttering insulting remarks at 5.30pm on May 4 last year in the prayer hall of Abu Ubaidah Mosque in Jalan Perpaduan, Taman Perpaduan Ulu Kinta, here.
Her remarks were heard by Abdul Rahim Mat Diah, 53, Mohd Yunos Harun, 73, and Mohd Halim Buyong, 44. It was believed to have been done to insult them.
She was charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail time of one year or fine, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer W.C. Chiang.
Fadhli urged the court to mete out a sentence that befitted the offence as it was a serious one that involved religious sensitivities and public interests.
He said such remarks should not have been uttered in front of not only Muslims or also people of other faiths, because Malaysians must respect one another’s religions.
Chiang pleaded with the court to pass a light sentence as his client was a mother of two and had parents to care for.
Tham faces three more months in prison if she fails to pay the fine. The court allowed the sentence to be postponed until the period of appeal is completed on condition that she posted bail of RM5,000 with one surety and handed over her passport to the court.