The Gombak Timur Syariah Court today postponed to May 3, the hearing of the case of former Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who is charged with teaching Islam without state authorisation.

NONE Judge Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad allowed the postponement following the prosecution's application for a judicial review of his decision to dismiss its application to transfer the case to the Syariah High Court.

"After hearing the submissions from the prosecution and defence on the transfer issue, the application for which is under review, this court allows the postponement.

"This postponement is made to resolve the case amicably for the good of the Muslim community," said Wan Mahyuddin.

Application for judicial review

Earlier, Syariah chief prosecutor Abdul Shukor Abdul Hamid said the prosecution had on Dec 10 filed the application for judicial review of the lower court's decision.

      

"We are applying to the court to postpone the hearing of this case while waiting for the decision of the Shah Alam Syariah High Court, and the preliminary objection notice filed by the defence will also be heard tomorrow," said Abdul Shukor.

Asri who was represented by counsel Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman, did not object to this.

Last Nov 18, Wan Mahyuddin dismissed the defence's application to transfer the case to the Syariah High Court, saying the Lower Court had the jurisdiction to make a decision.

Asri, 38, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of teaching Islam without authorisation at a house, No. 2 Lorong 2C, Taman Sri Ukay, Ampang, between 8.10pm and 9.45pm on Nov 1, 2009.

He is charged under Section 119 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2003, which carries the penalty of a fine of up to  RM3,000 or jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

He was released on a RM3,000 bond in two sureties.

- Bernama