The Attorney General’s Chambers offers GISB Holdings CEO and 21 others alternative charges under Societies Act 1966.
KAJANG: The Attorney General’s Chambers has accepted a representation from GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd CEO Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and 21 others to review their charges for alleged membership in an organised criminal group.
Deputy public prosecutor Shafiq Hasim informed the court of this development during proceedings before High Court Judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar at the Kajang Prison Complex.
Shafiq stated that the AGC had accepted the representation and offered an alternative charge against all the accused under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
He requested the court to set a new mention date soon since the matter had just been communicated to the defence counsel.
The accused’s counsel Datuk Rosli Kamaruddin confirmed he had been notified of the representation and expressed gratitude to the AGC for the opportunity afforded to all his clients.
Judge Latifah subsequently set November 7 for the case to be mentioned again when the alternative charge will be read to all the accused.
The court had previously scheduled the trial for November 17 to 21.
Speaking to reporters after the proceedings, Rosli clarified that his team had submitted the representation on May 26 proposing several charges including one under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
He confirmed that all his clients would accept the alternative charge and would then proceed with a plea of mitigation for the court’s consideration.
Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 pertains to the offence of being a member of an unlawful society providing for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to RM5,000 upon conviction.
On October 23 2024 Nasiruddin his wife Azura Md Yusof and 20 other individuals were charged at the Selayang Sessions Court with being members of an organised criminal group.
The offence was allegedly committed at premises in Bandar Country Homes Rawang between October 2020 and September 2024.
One of the individuals charged was Mohammad Adib At-Tamimi the son of Al-Arqam’s founder the late Ashaari Muhammad.
They were charged under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code which carries a prison sentence of between five and 20 years upon conviction before the case was transferred to the Shah Alam High Court for trial. – Bernama
