They were fined more than RM2,000 each and jailed for a month after they pleaded guilty at the shariah court in Kuala Terengganu, according to the Harian Metro daily. The daily said the case may be the first in Malaysia in which people were sentenced for not attending Friday prayers.

The men were named as Muhammad Aliff Fikri A Mazzani, Muhamad Hafizi Abdul Razak, Abdul Malek Mohd, and Khairul Azle Abdul Rasid. The four men and the two 17-year-olds were charged under the Shariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment.

They pleaded guilty to having committed the offence at the Sekayu waterfall, between 1pm and 1.50pm on Aug 23.

Sharie judge Nik Mohd Shahril Irwan Mat Yusof imposed a RM2,500 fine on Khairul and a month’s jail while the others were fined RM2,400 and a month’s jail, the daily reported.

The prosecution said the six were arrested by state religious department officers who were monitoring the area.

The officers found some of the accused having a shower and relaxing beside the waterfall during prayer time.

Harian Metro said it was understood the case is the first in Malaysia in which people were fined for not attending Friday prayers.