A deviationist sect leader who proclaimed to be 'Rasul Melayu' (Malay prophet), Abdul Kahar Ahmad, changed his plea of not guilty to guilty to five amended charges under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1985 at the Syariah High Court today.

Syariah judge Abu Zaky Mohammad set Oct 2 to hear submission by both parties.

Abdul Kahar is represented by counsel Musa Awang while the prosecution is represented by Selangor Syariah prosecuting chief Abdul Shukor Abd Hamid and prosecuting officer from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) Muhamad Nazri Basrawi prosecuted.

Abu Zaky also allowed Abdul Kahar, 59, to be released on a RM10,000 bail with 10 sureties comprising Jusa C government officers on all five charges and if he failed to post bail, to be detained at the Sungai Buloh prison.

Abdul Kahar is charged with proclaiming himself as a prophet for the Malays, conducting deviationist teachings, violating the Selangor Mufi's order, blasphemy and spreading false belief.

He is accused of committing the offences at No: 44, Jalan Bunga Ros, Kampung Kemensah, Hulu Klang between May 19 and June 23, 2005.

Abdul Kahar, a former employee at the National Zoo, was first charged on Aug 17, 2005, and was released on a RM8,000 bail pending hearing, which was supposed to be on Sept 21, 2005.

However, he failed to attend hearing on that day as well as on other dates fixed by the court, which lead to a warrant of arrest issued against him. Since then, he had been playing hide and seek with the law until he was arrested on Sept 16 this year at his hideout in Sungai Long, Kajang.

- Bernama