[UPDATED] Court changes punishment for ‘mandi jenazah’ teen to community service

KUALA LUMPUR – The Shah Alam High Court today set aside the punishment for the 19-year-old caught on video being put through the “mandi jenazah” (bathing of remains) ritual after he was caught stealing from a mosque’s donation box.

The court ruled that the teenager should instead serve 120 hours of social service in six months.

Two days ago, it was reported that Daniel Iskandar, 19, would be represented by Hariz Syakinah & Co in a judicial review.

Last week, the Selayang magistrates’ court sentenced Daniel to 10 days in jail and fined him RM4,000 after he pleaded guilty to attempting to steal from the Al Islahiah Mosque in an incident in Rawang on January 8.

The court also ordered the accused to serve his jail term from the date of arrest on January 9, adding that he would be jailed for another five months if he failed to pay the fine.

However, the fine has been paid by a Good Samaritan.

Prior to his sentencing, a video of Daniel being bathed like a corpse by mosque authorities had gone viral online, triggering public outcry against those who took matters into their own hands.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad said the action of members of the public who mete out their own punishment on individuals suspected of committing an offence is highly inappropriate.

Stressing that stealing for any reason is prohibited in Islam and offenders should be judged fairly, he said, however, the matter should be handed over to the authorities for further action.

Idris also advised members of the public, including mosque management, not to get caught up in certain sentiments or try to take their own action that would subject individuals suspected of committing an offence to cruelty.

“The act of recording people suspected of (committing offences) to be disseminated is also very inappropriate,” he said in a statement last night. – The Vibes, January 17, 2022