The Syariah Appeal Court in Shah Alam today upheld the sentence passed by the Syariah High Court on the deviationist 'Rasul Melayu' leader Abdul Kahar Ahmad who pleaded guilty to five charges under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995, three years ago.

On Oct 21 2009, Abdul Kahar, 62, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, RM16,500 fine and six strokes of the whip for spreading false doctrines on the practice of Islam.

His offences also included declaring himself as a prophet of the Malay people and ridiculing certain religious practices, at a house in Ulu Klang between May and June 2005.

The three man panel today, Ibrahim Lembut,Md Yusup Che Teh and Aidi Mokhtar unanimously declined Abdul Kahar's appeal to reduce the sentences passed on him.

Ibrahim, as panel chairman, said the court rejected Abdul Kahar's contention that the Syariah judge Abu Zaky Mohammad had erred in the severity of the sentences.

The judges were of the opinion that the prison, fine and whipping sentences were commensurate with the seriousness of the offence of falsely declaring himself as a prophet and tarnishing Islam.

"In weighing the sentence, public interest and the severity of the offence have to be taken into account. First offence and admission of guilt cannot be a mitigation in all cases," Ibrahim added.

He added that the whipping on Abdul Kahar would only be carried out after he was examined by a medical officer and there was no basis for the court of appeal to intervene with the High Court's decision for the sentences to run consecutively.

Abdul Kahar was represented by syariah lawyer Musa Awang, while Selangor Syariah chief prosecutor Abd. Shukor Abdul Hamid and prosecution officers Siti Fatimah Maulana and Shafezan Rosli appeared for the prosecution.

The Syariah High Court had also ordered Abdul Kahar to undergo rehabilitation at the Akidah Baitul Iman centre in Hulu Yam during the last six months of his prison sentence, which were ordered to run consecutively, effective Sept 16, 2009, the date of his arrest.

- Bernama