IPOH: “Raja Bomoh” Ibrahim Mat Zin and a 62-year-old woman who were investigated for allegedly insulting Islam over a flood prevention ritual were released by the Lower Syariah Court here yesterday.

       Ibrahim was released on RM3,000 bail, along with a guarantor that only consists of family members.

       Syarie judge Mohammad Najib Ab Razak made the ruling following an application by Syarie prosecutor Suhaili Ishak.

       Suliaha Abdul Hamid, 62, also known as “Puteri Zaleha”, was granted bail of RM3,000.

       Suhaili had argued for a maximum bail amount of RM3,000, saying that the case had already made the rounds on social media and garnered public attention.

       Ibrahim, who has 32 children and three wives, and Suliaha, a former civil servant, had applied for a reduced bail amount as they do not have a full-time job.

       The next hearing is set for Feb 23.

       The prosecution did not produce the charge sheet because it needed time for further investigations.

       Earlier, Sinar Harian reported that both of them would be charged under Section 14 of the Perak Syariah Criminal Enactment 1992 with insulting Islam as well as under Section 16 for going against the state fatwa department.

       A 25-minute video clip of the “tepung tawar” ceremony to ward off rain at Dataran JPS Teluk Intan, which involved releasing flowers and leaves, among other things, into the river to be carried by the currents to the sea, had gone viral.

       In the video, Zaleha is seated with Ibrahim while singing a Mayang Sari song with an open Quran in front of them.