KUALA LUMPUR – The Shah Alam High Court’s decision to set aside the 10-day jail sentence and fine of RM4,000 on the teenager who was bathed like a corpse for attempting to steal mosque funds has demonstrated the judiciary’s wisdom in handling the case.
Pertubuhan Pembela-Pembela Islam (Pembela) chairman Aminuddin Yahaya said that the youth’s future would most likely have been affected if the previous decision involving the prison sentence was upheld.
“Pembela is closely following the case of a teenager named Daniel Iskandar, which ended with the court’s decision to change the sentence to community service,” he told The Vibes’ Malay-language sister portal Getaran.
“We want to emphasise that the offence still remains an offence under the law. But for us, the court’s decision showed its wisdom as the future of the affected teenager could be ruined if he was imprisoned,” he said yesterday.
Furthermore, Aminuddin expressed his appreciation to the various parties involved in the case for managing to find the best solution.
Yesterday, judge Datuk Abd Halim Aman made the decision on Daniel, 19, replacing the original sentence with 120 hours of community service for a period of six months.
The court made its decision after hearing submissions from the prosecution and defence.
In the case, the prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutor Norhana Sahat, while the young offender was represented by lawyers Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, Fahmi Abdul Moin, Azman Abdullah and Ilyani Khszairy.
In addition, Aminuddin believes that the Islamic Religious Council in each state should set standard operating procedures for mosque committee members when taking actions under such circumstances, especially in dealing with crimes.
He stressed that the proposal should be taken up so that no polemics and conflict will arise among the community.
“Pembela also suggests that mosques, zakat centres and residents’ associations should be strengthened, integrated and equipped with mechanisms to track as well as be mindful to poor and troubled individuals in the relevant areas.
“The move is necessary so that the spirit of helping each other and loving fellow Muslims becomes a comprehensive daily practice,” he said.
Previously, the case involving Daniel caught widespread attention on social media when a video of him being bathed in the manner of a corpse as punishment surfaced, after he was found trying to steal funds from Masjid Al-Islahiah.
The incident triggered a hot debate between netizens, as some criticised the mosque committee’s actions, while others supported the matter.
Last week, the media reported that the teenager, after being bathed like a corpse, was jailed for 10 days and fined RM4,000 by the Selayang magistrates’ court for trying to steal funds from a mosque in Kuang, Rawang.
Daniel, who is also unemployed, was sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges read before magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan. – The Vibes, January 19, 2022
