![[UPDATED] Meat company directors charged over unauthorised halal logo use](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/20201230-rahman_sheikh_abdullah-raihanah_kasim-meat_cartel-halal-bernama.jpeg)
JOHOR BARU – Two meat supplier company directors pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today for unauthorised use of the halal logo early this month.
Raihanah Cold Storage Sdn Bhd owner Rahman Sheikh Abdullah, 44, and company director Raihanah Kasim, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to the married couple in front of judge Mohamad Haldar Abdul Aziz.
On the first charge, Raihanah Cold Storage was charged with having wrongly declared its services as halal via the unauthorised use of the halal logo on an Isuzu lorry.
On the second charge, Rahman and Raihanah, as owners of Raihanah Enterprise, were charged with committing a similar offence with a Mitsubishi lorry.
They are alleged to have committed the offence at Raihanah Cold Storage Sdn Bhd, Taman Perniagaan Setia here at about 1pm on December 1.
The charge against Raihanah Cold Storage was framed under Trade Description (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, which provides a fine of up to RM200,000, and RM500,000 for every second or subsequent offence if found guilty.
As for Rahman and Raihanah, who are charged in their capacities as directors of the company, they face a maximum fine of RM100,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. For a second or subsequent offence, they face a fine of up to RM250,000, up to five years of jail, or both, if found guilty.
The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor T. Ashvinii, requested bail at RM50,000 with one surety each for the second charge on grounds that the halal logo issue has received wide media coverage and been raised in Parliament.
However, Lawyers Lau Kok Guan and Noor Liana Hashim appealed for a lower bail, saying that their clients’ company (which has 20 employees) is still in operation and the couple has four children aged between 10 and 20.
The court then allowed the couple a bail of RM40,000 with one surety each and set January 19 for mention. – Bernama, December 30, 2020
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