[UPDATED] Siti Nuramira will not be charged at shariah court today

KUALA LUMPUR – The woman who allegedly insulted Islam during an open mic comedy skit at the Crackhouse Comedy Club will not be charged at the shariah high court today, according to her legal team. 

Siti Nuramira Abdullah, 26, was released from custody at around 10pm last night after being rearrested by Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) authorities yesterday. 

“We were informed by a Jawi officer at approximately 10pm last night that Siti Nuramira is to be released on Jawi bail immediately,” paralegal to defence lawyer R. Sivaraj said in a press update today. 

“Accordingly, Jawi will not proceed with the supposed charges at the shariah court today,” Hannann Syoffeeya Zainal Shahrir said, adding that she was told that Jawi will get in touch with their client “when they are ready to do so.”

Prior to releasing her without sureties or bonds, Hannan said Jawi had taken Siti Nuramira into custody at around 11.45am for investigations, noting that the woman is currently at a residence with her partner, Alexander Navin Vijayachandran, who was also released from custody yesterday. 

Sivaraj had previously told The Vibes that Siti Nuramira’s rearrest by Jawi was under Section 7 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997. 

Under the said section, Siti Nuramira may be charged with insulting or bringing into contempt, etc. the religion of Islam.

If found guilty, she would be liable to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both upon conviction.

The couple had managed to raise enough money to secure their combined bail of RM40,000 four days after a crowdfunding initiative – supported by legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty – was started. 

Sivaraj said many people have reached out to the defence team about donating to the duo who, at that time, had managed to gather about RM3,000. 

Last week, Siti Nuramira, 26, pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting religious disharmony during her performance at the comedy club here, with judge Siti Amirah Ghazali setting bail at RM20,000 with one surety and August 18 for mention.  

In a video that went viral on social media, she claimed to be a Muslim and to have memorised 15 chapters (juzuk) of the Quran, before stripping off her headscarf and baju kurung to reveal a sleeveless top and miniskirt.

Alexander, 38, also maintained his innocence to two charges under Section 233(1)(a) of the CMA 1998 for uploading insensitive material on online platforms and was facing a RM20,000 bail in total. – The Vibes, July 20, 2022