Man who slapped imam remanded for two weeks
Police say the Indian national is being held until Oct 2 as an illegal immigrant.
The man who slapped an imam at Masjid Negara yesterday has been remanded for two weeks.
According to Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah, the Indian national was being held as an illegal immigrant starting today until Oct 2.
"A check on his passport showed he had entered Malaysia on June 6 using a social visit pass, which upon inspection is now expired," he told reporters via WhatsApp today.
A social visit pass is only valid for 30 days.
The 31-year-old foreigner was arrested yesterday after he slapped imam Mohd Zuhairee Mohd Yatim during Friday prayers.
According to police the imam was pushed by the suspect, who then slapped him and tried to take over the leading of the congregation.
The Indian national was then dragged out by mosque staff and handed over to the police.
He was then sent to the Tun HS Lee police station for questioning.
"Investigations found that the suspect was not acting right and speaking to himself.
"According to the suspect he had during prayers heard a voice whispering and telling him to be the imam during the Friday prayers," Zainol said yesterday.
The National Mosque and Jakim have also denied that the incident was caused by any political or ideological differences expressed during the Friday sermon.
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