SEREMBAN: A follower of the Ahmadi Religion of Light and Peace was sentenced to six months in prison and fined RM4,500 by the Syariah High Court here today, after pleading guilty to three charges of teaching false doctrine two weeks ago.
Zolekafeli Abd Ghani, 60, received the sentence after understanding the charges presented by Syariah Judge Zulfikri Yasoa.
According to the charges, Zolekafeli taught false doctrine to his 30-year-old son, contradicting Islamic law by claiming that Abdullah Hashim was the third Imam Mahdi and asserting that the doctrine taught represented the spirit of Allah within Abdullah Hashim.
For the second and third charges, he was accused of making similar statements, claiming that the Quran had been altered by Saidina Umar and that marriage between siblings is permissible as long as it is biological and not spiritual.
All offences occurred at a house in Taman Ampangan between 2pm and 4.40pm on Oct 12.
He was charged under Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Negri Sembilan) 1992 (Amendment 2019), which allows for a penalty of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
In his appeal, the accused requested a lenient sentence, citing his age, his status as a retired firefighter supporting a wife and three children still in school, and his health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
Meanwhile, Syariah prosecutors Azizudin Abdullah Halim and Zarul Izham Jaafar argued that the Federal Territories Mufti Department had previously issued warnings about the teachings in question.
"The accused's offence is serious as it involves matters of faith that can lead to apostasy, polytheism, and disbelief," they said.
The court ultimately sentenced him to two months in prison and a RM1,500 fine for each charge, to be served consecutively.