Besut, Malaysia - Three wives of cult leader Ariffin Muhammad, better known as Ayah Pin, were charged in the Syariah Low Court, here Monday with involvement in deviationist teachings.
Che Jaharah Awang, 45, (Ayah Pin's second wife), Ruzilan Mukhtar, 41 (third wife) and Nik Kamariah Nik Pah, 33 (fourth wife), were charged with contravening the State Mufti's directive by participating in teachings that deviate from Islamic teachings.
They were alleged to have committed the offence at Ayah Pin's residence at 13th Mile Mukim Tenang, Ulu Besut, at 10.30am on July 20.
No plea was recorded.
Judge Wan Abdul Malik Wan Sidek released them on bail of RM1,500 each and fixed Nov 22 for mention. They posted bail.
They were charged under the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment 2001 and face a maximum fine of RM3,000 or two years jail, or both, if convicted.
Earlier, sharie chief prosecutor Mustafar Hamzah, who pushed for bail of RM3,000 each, asked the court for a mention date because the prosecution needed time to prepare its case.
The three women were detained by a team from the Kelantan police at a house in Kampung Sungai Pinang, Palekbang, Tumpat, Kelantan at about 11am yesterday and later re-arrested by the Besut district religious affairs office.
Ayah Pin and his first wife, Che Minah Remeli, 58, are still at large and the Terengganu Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAT) and police are looking for them.
On July 20, the department detained 58 Ayah Pin followers including five children and a Christian woman from New Zealand but the court later released the children and the New Zealander.
Of the rest, 45 have been charged with involvement in deviationist teachings and their case will be mentioned in the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court on Monday while seven, including Ayah Pin's three children, have been released.