JAIP hunting 12 more followers of 'Tuhan Harun' group

The Islamic Religious Department of Pahang (JAIP) is looking for 12 followers of a deviationist group 'Tuhan Harun' (Harun GOD) after failing to turn up at the Syariah Lower Court, here, for mention of their cases.

JAIP enforcement head Raflie Ab Malik said the court had issued warrant of arrest against the followers, aged between 12 to 41.

"The warrant of arrest is to compel them to be present at the JAIP office to help in investigation for allegedly keeping and owning documents which contravened the teachings of Islam," he told reporters, here, today.

Yesterday, six men, believed to be followers of the deviant group, were charged at the Syariah Lower Court for allegedly keeping and owning documents which contravened with Islam.

On April 24, the leader of the group Harun Mat Saad, 47, was charged in the Syariah Lower Court, here, on 11 charges, including disseminating deviant teaching and ridiculing Islam by claiming to be god.

According to Raflie, he believed the 12 were still in the country and hoped they would promptly surrender, to help JAIP complete its investigation.

"They cannot be traced or contacted after being freed on bail on May 5, after they were detained at a premise, B16-1st, Lorong Pandan Damai 2/201, Kuantan at 6.50pm, on April 4," he said.

He said JAIP was also identifying 312 more members of the group nationwide.

"Their names are being identified and we will get a warrant to summon them because they are among the important individuals in the group," he said.

Yesterday, the six men pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing documents which contravened with Islam, last April.

All the accused were charged under Section 165 of the Islamic Religious Administration Enactment and Pahang Malay Customs 1982 which provided a fine of RM2,000 or one-year jail or both if found guilty.

Syariah Lower Court judge Abdul Wahid Md Ali Al-Fakwie fixed Aug 27 for sentencing, following a technical problem on the evidence seized on the day that the accused were detained.