KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Syariah Judge Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad today sentenced Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bung Moktar Radin to one month's jail for committing polygamy without the consent of court.
Wan Mahyuddin said that court needed to impose severe punishment so that that the public would respect the institution of marriage, and to serve as a lesson for those that did not respect the Islamic legal system.
“The court hopes that this case will be an important lesson for the public in understanding the concept of polygamy in Islam and also the importance of the institution of marriage. Even though the court has previously given a maximum sentence but many still commit the same offence.
“The court has decided that it needs to hand a severe punishment in the case for the betterment of the society. The court hopes that this punishment will give a clear picture and encourage the public to follow the procedures provisioned in the Islamic legal system,” he said.
Wan Mahyuddin added that Bung Mokhtar and Zizie Izette, as “icons” in the country, must lead by example and respect the Islamic court.
“Bung Mokhtar should have respected the law because he is a lawmaker and represents the people. Zizie Izette is popular Muslim actress and both are idols. Their actions will be reciprocated by the public. If they don’t follow the rules... the rules can belittle by the people,” he said.
Bung Mokhtar and Zizie Izette had pleaded guilty at the Gombak Timur Lower Syariah Court to the charge of committing polygamy without the consent of court and a marriage registrar on April 20.
Zizie was slapped with a RM1,000 fine, or one month's jail in lieu, for the offence.
The couple were also handed a RM1,000 fine, or six months jail in lieu, for abetting in polygamy.
Zizie’s siblings — Ahmad Shahazmi Abdul Samad, Sazmy Fuzette Abdul Samad, Saheizy Abdul Samad and Sam Abdul Samad — were each sentenced to a RM1,000 fine or six months jail in lieu for similar offences.
Bung’s friends, Sahari Ahmad and Titing Putang, received the same sentences for abetting in the polygamy.
The lawmaker's counsel, Amli Embong, had requested for a stay of execution of the custodial sentence.
Earlier, members of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) had caused a ruckus and tried to force their way into the court room.
The members complained that they had to line up and wait for the reporters to arrive before they were allowed in.
“This is a strategy by the court and family to not let us in. How can they let the media in first? We were here first! There are so many of them here. How can we expect them not to be biased? We need to be in,” said one member.
The judge later granted Bung Mokhtar a stay of execution, on the condition that his counsel files a notice of appeal to the Syariah High Court within 14 days.
The Umno lawmaker has also been released on a bail of RM1,000 with one guarantor.
Later, Bung told reporters he would not dispute the judge’s decision.
“The court has made its decision and we accept it. I was not expecting anything. I was leaving it to God,” he said.
Amli then confirmed the case would now be brought to the Syariah High Court.
“There are two stages of appeal. We will appeal at the (Syariah) High Court. After the High Court, we still have another level at the court of appeal. Until the High Court makes its decision then there is not yet any final decision on this matter.
“We will file the notice of appeal at the Shah Alam Syariah High Court as soon as possible,” he said.
Amli added that his client would also file a separate case to register the marriage.
“The parties will also file another case in the Syariah court to validate the marriage and polygamy,” he said without revealing the date of application.
