SEREMBAN: A Singaporean who is the leader of the "Ajaran Cahaya" group was sentenced to six months in prison by the Seremban Syariah High Court yesterday (Nov 18) after pleading guilty to three charges of propagating deviant teachings that violate Islamic principles.
Syariah Judge Zulfikri Yasoa also ordered the accused, Idris Ami, 60, to pay a fine of RM2,000.
According to charges read by the court interpreter, the accused had propagated practices contrary to Islamic principles to a group known as "Kumpulan Cahaya."
This included permitting hugs between individuals of different genders who are not mahram (close relatives forbidden to marry) based on the belief that such acts were not sinful in Islamic terms, as they stemmed from heartfelt love rather than physical desires or lust.
Idris also changed his plea to guilty on two additional charges presented yesterday, after initially pleading not guilty on Oct 4.
According to the charges, Idris was accused of teaching deviant beliefs to two men aged 42 and 46.
He claimed to be a divine messenger or prophet for the current era and asserted that a "holy spirit" resided within him, which he associated with the spirits of past prophets, from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad.
The offences were committed between September and December 2023 at a house in Kuala Pilah.
The accused was charged under Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992.
If convicted, the accused could face a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Idris, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, citing his wish to return to his home country to support his wife and children.
However, Negri Sembilan Syariah Prosecution Department chief prosecutor Raja Mazelan Raja Deraman argued that the accused's offences were severe in terms of faith, potentially leading to apostasy, disbelief, and polytheism.
He said as a foreigner, the accused should have respected Malaysian laws and called for a strict and appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent.
According to case facts, the accused actively disseminated his teachings through various social media platforms, including Facebook and Telegram.
On Oct 4, it was reported that Idris had claimed the "holy spirit" resided within him, encompassing the spirits of all prophets. He further asserted that he had attained such a high spiritual status that worship was no longer necessary.
The teachings, known as "Ajaran Cahaya," were widely spread on social media, with its Telegram group amassing up to 5,000 members.