SHAH ALAM (ANN/THESTAR) – KK Super Mart founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, pleaded not guilty to two charges related to the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah” on Tuesday (March 26) at the Sessions Court here.
Chai, aged 57, and Loh, aged 53, denied the charges before Judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir.
They were charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment, a fine, or both, if convicted. Loh was charged in her capacity as the director of the retail outlets.
During bail submissions, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Masri Daud requested bail to be set at MYR15,000, while defense counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh proposed bail of MYR5,000 for the first offense, citing the maximum penalty.
Rajpal also noted that despite being a director, Loh is primarily a housewife.
Judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir then set bail at MYR10,000 for Chai and Loh, each with one surety, and scheduled the mention of the case for April 29.
Meanwhile, Soh Chin Huat, director of Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, the vendor of the socks, was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetment, which is punishable under Section 298 of the same Code. His counsel, Low Yee Leong, requested bail of MYR5,000, but the judge set it at MYR10,000 with one surety.
Similarly, Soh’s wife, Koh Lee Hui, was also charged under the same Section, with bail set at MYR10,000.
The mention for the initial four charges is scheduled for April 29.
On March 17, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh demanded banners at all 881 KK Super Mart outlets apologising for the issue. Chai and his management team subsequently issued a public apology to all Malaysians, especially those of the Muslim faith, affirming that they had no intention to disrupt public harmony.
