SHAH ALAM (March 26): KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd (KK Mart), its founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan, his wife Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui — a KK Mart director — and four others were separately charged with intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims over the display of socks bearing the word "Allah" at a KK Mart 24-hour convenience store.

The case will go to trial after Chai, 57, and Loh, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charges after it was read before judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Tuesday.

Both individuals were granted separate bail of RM10,000 with one surety. The judge fixed mention of the case on April 29.

The charges were framed under Section 298 of the Penal Code, for wounding the religious feelings of others and if convicted, the pair faces a jail sentence of one year, a fine, or both.

KK Mart and the pair are accused of deliberately intending to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims by displaying socks printed with the word "Allah" on a sales display rack at a KK Mart in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya which was seen by a 31-year-old man at 6.30am on March 13.

The pair was represented by Datuk Rajpal Singh, who was assisted by Datuk David Gurupatham, Datuk RS Sodhi, Datuk Theng Book and James Ee, while deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud prosecuted.

KK Mart’s former vendor Xin Jiang Chang Sdn Bhd, which supplied the socks to KK Mart, three of the company’s directors — Soh Chin Huat, 61, his wife Goh Li Huay, 62, and the pair’s daughter Soh Hui San, 36 — were charged with conspiring to commit the offence.

As a result of their complicity in the "Allah" socks offence, they were charged under Section 109 — an offence committed in consequence of abetment in pursuance of the conspiracy — read together with Section 298 of the Penal Code.  

Likewise, the three directors were also granted separate bail of RM10,000 with one surety. Xin Jiang Chang and the trio were represented by lawyer Lau Yi Leong.

Similarly, if convicted, they face one year in jail, a fine, or both.

The "Allah" socks incident on March 13 was posted on social media, stoking a frenzied reaction from various quarters, with some calling for a boycott of the KK Mart stores.

Three days later on March 16, Chai publicly apologised, saying he also could not accept the sale of socks bearing the word "Allah".

Xin Jiang Chang’s Chin Huat had previously said that the socks were obtained in a bundle from China which arrived in a batch of 1,200 pairs at their facility in Batu Pahat, Johor last year.

He said that the socks were sent out to various KK Mart premises on Jan 29 and claimed that KK Mart employees had made the mistake of not scrutinising the socks. The stocks have since been recalled from all the stores nationwide.

KK Mart on Monday filed a lawsuit against Xin Jiang Chang at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, alleging sabotage of its business in the supply of the socks. In the suit, KK Mart, the sole plaintiff, named Xin Jiang Chang and Chin Huat as defendants.