KUALA LUMPUR – Convenience store chain KK Mart’s company directors and several individuals from its former importer involved in the “Allah”-printed socks controversy are expected to be charged in court tomorrow.
According to a source close to the matter, the charges will be brought against two KK Mart company directors and three figures from Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, which was the local importer for its China-based supplier.
The charges are framed under the Penal Code, namely Section 298 on deliberately wounding religious feelings, which carries an imprisonment term of up to one year, a fine, or both for those found guilty, and Section 109 on abetment.
The charges will be made at the Shah Alam sessions court at 9am tomorrow, based on a notice distributed to the media.
Tomorrow’s court case follows two individuals who were charged under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for posting insensitive social media content relating to the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
On March 22, 34-year-old Chiok Wai Loong pleaded guilty in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court and was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM12,000.
A day earlier, Sabahan Ricky Shane Cagampang, 33, also pleaded guilty in Kota Kinabalu and similarly received a six months’ jail term and a RM15,000 fine.
A total of 178 police reports have been lodged nationwide so far.
In a previous raid on the local importer’s premises, police found 14 pairs of the offending socks, which had been recalled and returned to the supplier by KK Mart once images of the socks on sale at one of the store’s outlets incited widespread ire.
Following public outrage, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai apologised profusely at a press conference last weekend, with the store’s outlets opting to express their regret in the form of banners outside stores and messages at their counters.
Xin Jian Chang had also apologised for an oversight in its quality control process, saying it had done its best to ensure that all 18,800 socks received from its supplier in China were cleared for sale here.
It also denied intentionally ordering the socks, stressing that it had informed its foreign suppliers not to provide products that could potentially offend its Muslim consumers.
Due to the heated backlash over the products, Xin Jian Chang previously said it was considering legal action against the overseas supplier for negligence. – March 25, 2024