KAJANG, Oct 30 — The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has accepted a representation from GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) chief executive officer Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and 21 others to review their charges for alleged membership in an organised criminal group.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Shafiq Hasim informed the court of this development during proceedings before High Court Judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar at the Kajang Prison Complex today.
Shafiq, who is handling the case alongside DPP Mohammad Fakhrurrazi Ahmad Salim, said the AGC had accepted the representation and offered an alternative charge against all the accused under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
"Given that this matter has only just been communicated to the defence counsel, the prosecution requests the court to set a new mention date soon," he said, without disclosing the specific details of the alternative charge.
The accused's counsel Datuk Rosli Kamaruddin, who represents all the defendants, confirmed that he had been notified of the representation and expressed his gratitude to the AGC for the opportunity afforded to all his clients.
Subsequently, Judge Latifah set November 7 for the case to be mentioned again, at which point the alternative charge will be read to all the accused. The court had previously scheduled the trial for November 17 to November 21.
Rosli, assisted by lawyers Muhammad Zaim Rosli and Boestamam Ahmad, clarified that his team had submitted the representation on May 26, proposing several charges, including one under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.
"We have consulted with all our clients, and they will accept the alternative charge. We will then proceed with a plea of mitigation and submit it for the court's consideration," he told the press after the proceedings.
Section 43 of the Act concerns the offence of being a member of an unlawful society, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of up to 3 years, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both upon conviction.
On October 23 last year, Nasiruddin, 66, his 58-year-old 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, 33, the son of the deviant movement Al-Arqam's founder, the late Ashaari Muhammad.
The other accused are: Mohd Shukri Mohd Noor, 54; Muhammad Afdaluddin Latif, 35; Mohamad Sayuti Omar, 36; Mohd Fazil Md Jasin, 58; Mohd Dhirar Fakhrur Razi, 35; Mokhtar Tajuddin, 61; Muhammad Fajrul Islam Khalid, 29; Abu Ubaidah Ahmad Shukri, 35; Shuhaimi Mohamed, 57; Hasnan Abd Hamid, 54; and Muhammad Zahid Azhar @ Nadzri, 52.
Also charged were: Khalilatul-Zalifah Mohammad Jamil, 28; Nur Jannah Omar, 33; Hamimah Yakub, 72; Asmat@Asmanira Muhammad Ramly, 45; Nurul Jannah Idris, 29; Siti Salmiah Ismail, 58; Siti Hajar Ismail, 52; and Mahani Kasim, 55.
They were charged under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years upon conviction. The case was subsequently transferred to the Shah Alam High Court for trial.
