Court orders independent preacher to enter defence over unrecognised honorific title

KANGAR: The Sessions Court here today ordered independent preacher Ahmad Husam Muhamad Baderudin, better known as Ustaz Husam, to enter his defence on a charge of using an unrecognised honorific title.

Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the 36-year-old at the close of its case.

The court gave the accused three options: to testify under oath from the witness stand, where he could be cross-examined by the prosecution; to give an unsworn statement from the dock, without being cross-examined; or to remain silent.

Husam chose the first option and will testify under oath from the witness stand.

His lawyer, Datuk N Sivananthan, informed the court that the defence would call four witnesses to testify.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Izham Ali conducted the prosecution.

The court fixed Dec 17 and 18 for the defence proceedings.

According to the charge, Husam allegedly received an unrecognised title and honour from the Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department office at the Perlis police contingent headquarters at 11.30am on May 4, 2023.

He was charged under Section 4A(3) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) (Amendment) Enactment 2016 (Enactment A21), read together with Section 17 of the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017 (Act 787).

If convicted, he faces a fine of between RM250,000 and RM500,000, imprisonment for between one and five years, or both, under Section 4A(6) of Enactment A21.