SHAH ALAM (July 15): KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd (KK Mart) and supplier Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, as business entities, have each been given a RM60,000 fine by the Shah Alam Sessions Court, after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 298 of the Penal Code for wounding religious feelings in the recent ‘Allah’ socks matter.

However, KK Mart founder Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan, his wife Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, and three directors of Xin Jian Chang were granted an acquittal, after the prosecution withdrew its case.

The acquittal was granted after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud informed Sessions Court judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir that the Attorney General’s Chambers had accepted the accused’s representation letters, but was continuing its prosecution on the companies.

Following that, KK Mart and the supplier Xin Jian Chang, as business entities, admitted guilt for the offence under Section 298 of the Penal Code, and were issued the fine.

Masri, when contacted by The Edge, confirmed the outcome.

Separately, Datuk Rajpal Singh, the lawyer for Chai and Loh, also confirmed the matter with The Edge.

Chai, 57, and Loh, 53, were initially charged last March, with 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.

Xin Jian Chang’s three directors, Soh Chin Huat, 61, his wife Goh Li Huay, 62, and the pair’s daughter Soh Hui San, 36 — who were at the time suppliers of the socks — were charged with abetment on conspiring to commit the offence.

The charges under Section 298 of the Penal Code carry a jail sentence, or a fine, or both.

Chai and Loh had sent a letter of representation in May, as did Soh and the others.

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.