GEORGE TOWN, July 2 (Bernama) -- A trader was fined RM10,000 by the Magistrate's Court here today after pleading guilty to possessing Quran-related materials worth RM11,711 without the Home Ministry’s approval in March this year.
Peter Ch'ng Kian Poh, 31, made the plea after the charge was read against him before Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin.
Siti Nurul Suhaila also ordered Ch'ng to serve 12 months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
Ch'ng pleaded guilty to possessing 13 units of Ebook-ku (digital Muqaddam), 492 units of Eletree Zikir & Ruqyah, and 59 units of Azan clock with speaker, without a certificate of approval from the Home Ministry's Quran Printing Control and Licensing Board, at business premises in Jelutong here, at 1.45 pm on March 26.
He was charged under Section 6(1) of the Printing of Quranic Texts Act 1986 (Act 326), which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both if convicted.
Earlier, lawyer Mima Falaq Mohd Firdaus, representing the accused, appealed for a minimum fine since this was her client's first offence and the guilty plea had saved all parties costs and time.
She added that her client has an income of RM8,000 a month and has to support both his parents.
However, Penang Home Ministry prosecuting officer Che Mahadzir Saad pressed for a commensurate fine to serve as a lesson to other traders to maintain the sanctity of the Quran.
-- BERNAMA
