A man was sentenced to 24 months' jail and fined RM4,900 by the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court here after he pleaded guilty to a charge of making false claim by declaring himself as 'Imam Mahdi.'

Syarie Judge Mohd Amran Mat Zain sentenced Mat Alimin Abdullah,36, in accordance with Section 6 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

The court also ordered Mat Alimin to serve another six months' jail if he failed to pay the fine.

Before sentencing, Mohd Amran said faith is among the core issues of the Muslim faith and thus should not be mixed with other things that can raise doubt.

Mat Alimin allegedly said: "If I am telling the truth, whoever teases me, lie to me, I leave it to Allah, because the person speaking today is Muhammad Al-Mahdi, the messenger of Allah.

"If it is true that I am the messenger of Allah, whoever teases me will be cursed by Allah. Prophet Muhammad promised there will emerge a person whose name is like mine. He comes from my lineage, his father's name is like my father's and he comes from the east."

Mat Alimin allegedly committed the offence in the meeting room of Federal Territory Mufti Office at Level 10, Menara Pusat Islam, Jalan Perdana, between 3pm and 3.30pm, on Tuesday.

(Mahdi is believed to be the prophesied redeemer of Islam before judgment day.)

In mitigation, Mat Alimin pleaded for a light sentence, saying he has two children who are still in school and is self-employed.

Meanwhile, prosecuting officer Zainol Rashid Husin of Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) sought a jail sentence since Mat Alimin was in good health and of sound mind when committing the offence.

- Bernama