PJ MP Maria Chin sentenced to seven days jail by Syariah Court

SHAH ALAM – Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah will have to spend seven days behind bars after the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court today found her guilty of contempt of court.

According to a report by The Star, she was convicted for contempt for making a degenerating statement and comments on Sept 5, 2019, with regard to the court's treatment of Emilia Hanafi, the ex-wife of Datuk SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.

Syarie Judge Mohamed Fouzi Mokhtar said the article published by Maria Chin on the aforementioned date has belittled the Syariah Court.

“The title used by the respondent in the article itself has insulted the court and given a wrong impression of the Syariah Court institution to the public. Her article also contained factual errors and irrelevant points.

“The court hereby rules that the respondent has committed contempt of court through her article. The court also rejects the show-cause notice submitted by Maria Chin. Therefore, the court sentences the respondent to seven days in jail beginning today,” said Fouzi.

However, the court has allowed for a stay of execution pending for an appeal at the Syariah Court of appeal within 14 days starting from today.

Fouzi also stated that Maria, through her defence has failed to proved that her statement did not demean or belittle the Syariah Judiciary system.