KAJANG, Nov 7 — The Shah Alam High Court today sentenced GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) chief executive officer Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and Mohammad Adib At-Tamimi, the son of former Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Muhammad, along with 11 other men, to 15 months’ jail each for being members of an unlawful organisation.

Apart from Nasiruddin, 66, and Mohammad Adib At-Tamimi, 33, the other men are Mohd Shukri Mohd Noor, 54; Muhammad Afdaluddin Latif, 35; Mohamad Sayuti Omar, 36; Mohd Fazil Md Jasin, 58; Mohd Dhirar Fakhrur Razi, 35; Mokhtar Tajuddin, 61; Muhammad Fajrul Islam Khalid, 29; Abu Ubaidah Ahmad Shukri, 35; Shuhaimi Mohamed, 57; Hasnan Abd Hamid, 54; and Muhammad Zahid Azhar @ Nadzri, 52.

Judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar meted out the sentence during a proceeding held at the Kajang Prison Complex after they pleaded guilty to the charge.

They were ordered to serve their sentences from the date of their arrest, which was between September 2, 2024, and October 12, 2024.

Meanwhile, Nasiruddin’s wife, Azura Md Yusof, 58, and eight other women were each fined RM4,500, in default seven months’ imprisonment, after pleading guilty to the same charge.

The eight women are Khalilatul-Zalifah Mohammad Jamil, 28; Nur Jannah Omar, 33; Hamimah Yakub, 72; Asmat @ Asmanira Muhammad Ramly, 45; Nurul Jannah Idris, 29; Siti Salmiah Ismail, 58; Siti Hajar Ismail, 52; and Mahani Kasim, 55.

They were initially charged with being members of an organised criminal group under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years upon conviction.

However, following a representation from all the accused,  the Attorney General’s Chambers offered them an alternative charge, with becoming members of GISBH, which is an unlawful organisation.

They are charged with committing the offence at a premises in Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, between October 2020 and September 11, 2024.

The charge is framed under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335) and is punishable with a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or both, if convicted.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Latifah said the court took into consideration the guilty pleas of all the accused to the alternative charge, after hearing the prosecution’s aggravating submissions and the defence’s mitigation pleas.

“There are 13 male accused in this case, and the court has taken into account their guilty pleas to the alternative charge, as well as their expression of remorse and regret over their actions. The court also considered the fact that they have been in remand for 13 months,” she said.

As for the female accused, the judge said the court also took into account their guilty pleas and the period they spent in remand, which was about six months, before being granted bail. — Bernama