GISB Holdings CEO Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and 12 men sentenced to 15 months jail, while nine women fined RM4,500 each for unlawful organisation membership.
KAJANG: The Shah Alam High Court sentenced GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd CEO Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and 12 other men to 15 months imprisonment each for becoming members of an unlawful organisation.
Judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar delivered the sentence during proceedings held at the Kajang Prison Complex after all defendants pleaded guilty.
The group includes Mohammad Adib At-Tamimi, son of former Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Muhammad, alongside 11 other male co-accused.
Their jail terms are effective from their respective arrest dates between September 2 and October 12, 2024.
Meanwhile, Nasiruddin’s wife Azura Md Yusof and eight other women received fines of RM4,500 each for the same offence.
The women face seven months imprisonment if they fail to pay their respective fines.
All female defendants also pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful organisation membership.
The court proceedings concluded the case involving 22 individuals linked to the unlawful organisation.
They were initially charged with being members of an organised criminal group under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years upon conviction.
However, following a representation from all the accused, the Attorney General’s Chambers offered them an alternative charge, with becoming members of GISBH, which is an unlawful organisation.
They are charged with committing the offence at a premises in Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, between October 2020 and Sept 11, 2024.
The charge is framed under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335) and is punishable with a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or both, if convicted.
Before handing down the sentence, Judge Latifah said the court took into consideration the guilty pleas of all the accused to the alternative charge, after hearing the prosecution’s aggravating submissions and the defence’s mitigation pleas.
“There are 13 male accused in this case, and the court has taken into account their guilty pleas to the alternative charge, as well as their expression of remorse and regret over their actions. The court also considered the fact that they have been in remand for 13 months,” she said.
As for the female accused, the judge said the court also took into account their guilty pleas and the period they spent in remand, which was about six months, before being granted bail. – Bernama
