Eight people were charged in the Syariah Lower Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday with spreading what is a known as the Millah Ibrahim @ Abraham teaching.

Mohd Fazil Mohd Yunus, 37, and Wan Ramlah Megat Razalli,47, were charged with spreading Millah Ibrahim @ Abraham, a teaching other than Islam, at Level 2, No 10-2, Jalan 2A/27A Section 1, Wangsa Maju, between 10pm and 10.30pm on Monday.

They were charged under Section 5 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territories, 1997) which carries a maximum fine of RM3,000 or jailed up to two years or both, upon conviction.

The charges against the self-employed duo were read out separately.

Six others were charged with taking part in a ceremony to spread the teaching at the same time and place under Section 43 of the same act which carries the same punishment.

They were private college students Aizat Firdaus Azmi, 19, and Syed Aiman Akmal Syed Ahmad Akmal, 19, trader Raja Mohd Faidzul Draman, 33, self-employed Muhammad Ashraf Ibrahim, 29, Puteri Najlaa Jaafar, 23, the daughter of Wan Ramlah, and technician Mohd Razib Baharudin, 35.

They were arrested yesterday based on information that a group were spreading a religion with elements of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

All the accused merely nodded when the charges were read out before Syariah Judge Mohd Hizwan Mohd Noor. No pleas were recorded.

Judge Mohd Hizwan rejected bail for Mohd Fazil and Wan Ramlah. Aizat Firdaus and Syed Aiman were granted RM1,800 bail with one surety consisting of their mother, father or siblings.

Four others were allowed RM1,800 bail with one surety consisting of locals staying in the Federal Territory. The court set Dec 2 for case mention.

All eight were unrepresented by counsel. The six accused posted bail.

- Bernama