Da’i Syed sent to Kajang Prison, appeal to delay sentence denied

SHAH ALAM: Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed has been sent to Kajang Prison to begin serving his sentence as decided by the Sessions Court, starting today, after his request to delay the sentence was denied.

According to Bernama, Judge Norazlin Othman rejected the request by the accused, Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, 29, to postpone the execution of the sentence, finding that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify granting the request.

“The application to delay the sentence was denied because there were no special circumstances proving that an appeal to the High Court automatically delays the sentence, nor were there any merits in the appeal,” she said.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin stated that there was no justification for delaying the sentence given the proven criminal offense.

However, Syed Amirul Syed Edros, the lawyer representing the accused, argued that if the delay were granted, it would not prejudice any party, as a new bail with stricter conditions could be imposed to ensure the accused does not flee.

The court sentenced Syed Shah Iqmal to 10 years in prison and three strokes of the rotan after finding him guilty of raping a 23-year-old woman (at the time) in a room at a condominium in I-City, Section 7, here, at approximately 1:35 a.m. on September 11, 2019.

On April 10 last year, the Shah Alam Sessions Court acquitted and released Syed Shah Iqmal from the rape charge after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him at the end of the prosecution’s case.

However, the Shah Alam High Court overturned the Sessions Court’s decision on March 7, allowing the prosecution’s appeal and ordering the accused to defend himself against the charges.

During today’s proceedings, the accused, dressed in a suit, was seen crying and bowing his head while in the dock.

After the court announced its decision, Syed Shah Iqmal’s wife, Nurulhana Ismail, 38, was seen embracing and comforting her husband, who was crying after hearing the verdict.

Family members also brought the couple’s 16-day-old baby to meet Syed Shah Iqmal before he was taken to Kajang Prison.