Jawi officer explains why Siti Kasim was arrested

KUALA LUMPUR: A Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) enforcement officer testified that activist Siti Kasim was arrested for obstructing Jawi enforcement officers from carrying out an inspection during a raid at a beauty pageant two years ago.

Siti Nor Jihan Saleh @ Md Ghazali said the public, including lawyers, must cooperate with enforcement officers during raids.

When deputy public prosecutor Hafizza Sauni questioned Nor Jihan, she replied she was not aware that the accused was a lawyer, and that “the accused prevented the officers from conducting the raid”.

She said that the accused had also prevented her from checking a suspect at the competition.

“I asked for an identity card to be produced to confirm their gender but the accused prevented me, saying that I had no right,” she said.

Nor Jihan was testifying at the trial of Siti Kasim who is charged with obstructing the officer from executing her duties during a raid.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Renaissance Hotel ballroom here at about 10.30pm on April 3, 2016.

The prosecution has so far called four witnesses, and is expected to call another two before closing.

Magistrate Maizatul Munirah Abd Rahman fixed Sept 6 for the next hearing date.