KUALA LUMPUR: Cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat has been charged at the Shah Alam Syariah High Court with cross-dressing at a religious function, causing the religion of Islam to be scorned upon.
The 36-year old, whose real name is Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, had pleaded not guilty to the offence on Jan 6, when the charge was read to him before syarie judge Mohammad Khalid Shaee@Shaii.
According to the charge sheet, Sajjad, as a man, had caused the religion of Islam to be ridiculed by dressing up as a woman at a Yasin recitation and solat hajat (prayer) event.
He allegedly committed the offence at the premises of Nursajat Beauticion at Alam Avenue 2, Jalan Serai Wangi, Seksyen 16, here, at about 7.30pm on Feb 23, 2018.
The offence under Section 10(a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both, if found guilty.
Sajjad was granted RM3,000 bail and his case will be up for mention on Feb 23.
Deputy syariah prosecutor Atras Mohd Zain appeared for the prosecution.
On Jan 6, a video of Sajjad appearing in distress while under the custody of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) went viral on social media.
The social media star was seen crying and in handcuffs in the video explaining that he was summoned by the religious authority over a report that was filed in 2018 accusing him of allegedly insulting Islam.
Meanwhile, Jais had in a statement confirmed that Sajjad was being investigated for allegedly insulting Islam or bringing it into contempt, following his behaviour, as well as several complaints lodged against him that the department received in 2018 and 2020.