Book store manager grateful for decision

(The Star) – Berjaya Books store manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz was grateful to the appellate court which ruled that the actions of Jawi and two others in conducting the raid on a Borders bookstore and investigating Berjaya Books and its two employees were unreasonable.

Nik Raina broke down after a unanimous decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered.

“It is good for future reference for Muslims working in bookstores.

“I thank the judges for their judgment,” she said, trying her best to hold back her tears.

She said the judgment would encourage Muslims to work in such bookstores.

“We need support. I know I did not do anything wrong,” said Nik Raina, who was accompanied by her colleagues and friends.

Nik Raina thanked her bosses for their support in fighting the case.

“I really hope Jawi will reconsider the benefit of prosecuting me. There is none,” she sobbed.

Berjaya Books’ chief operating officer Yau Su Peng said they were hopeful Jawi and the syariah prosecution chief would find compassion and drop the charge against Nik Raina.

“She has been our manager throughout the 31-month ordeal,” she said.

Nik Raina was arrested on May 30, 2012, and was charged under Section 13 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 for the offence of “disseminating and distributing by way of selling the books deemed contrary to Islamic law.

She was charged at the Syariah High Court on June 19, 2012.

Yau said they supported Nik Raina and appreciated her fortitude when she was brought to public scrutiny and had her religious beliefs questioned for working at Borders.

She said they defended their employee’s rights and were pleased with the outcome.

Berjaya’s co-counsel Ang Hean Leng said it was a landmark judgment.

“It is landmark, it upholds the sense of fairness and justice.”

“It reaffirmed our belief that the High Court is duty bound to act in the face of irrational and illegal conduct of public authorities in raiding and seizing the book as well as arresting Nik Raina and prosecuting her.”