SHAH ALAM: KK Mart Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan, who was today discharged and acquitted by the Sessions Court over a charge related to "Allah" socks, expressed relief that the case is over.
He said the past four months had been difficult for him and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, as well as their company.
"We suffered in the past 124 days. It was not an easy journey, and I feel so sad about what happened to my company.
"It was something unthinkable for me, and it would be unforgettable.
"This is an important day for me. I am extremely relieved. None of you have suffered what I did," he said after court proceedings.
Lawyer Datuk Rajpal Singh said the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) had accepted the representation of the couple, who are directors of KK Supermart and Superstore Sdn Bhd.
"We informed the A-GC that the company needed to be responsible and not the directors.
"The directors were not there when it happened at one of their more than 800 outlets.
"So they (A-GC) agreed that the company needed to take responsibility.
"The company has done so by pleading guilty through a representative, was convicted, fined RM60,000, and the matter ends today.
"I hope this will put an end to the KK Mart saga, and the public will move on," he said.
Co-lawyer Datuk David Gurupatham said KK Mart would heed the judge's advice to ensure tighter quality control over their supplies and commit to it.
He added that KK Mart's civil suit against Xin Jian Chang was at the case management stage and there would be further discussions on it.
Earlier, judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir discharged and acquitted (DNA) Chai and Loh, as well as the three directors of Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd after the prosecution said it did not want to continue the case and wanted to withdraw the charges against them.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud, who prosecuted, had applied for the discharge not amounting to acquittal on the five.
However, the court ruled in favour of all five accused.
The court fined KK Supermart and Store RM60,000 for an offence of intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by displaying the socks at their outlet in Bandar Sunway in March this year.
Xin Jian Chang was fined RM60,000 for conspiring to commit the same offence.