KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- A public caning was carried out today at Dewan 'Aasim, Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, following the Friday prayers, for an individual convicted of repeatedly committing khalwat (close proximity between unmarried individuals).
The 42-year-old labourer, a widower with five children, was sentenced to six strokes of the cane after admitting to his third offence. This marks the first public caning of its kind in Terengganu.
Arriving at the mosque at 2.28 pm, the man was escorted by Marang Prison officers, wearing prison attire and a face mask.
He was immediately taken to a designated room for a health check by medical staff before the sentence was carried out.
Before the caning, attendees at the hall, who were prohibited from bringing any communication devices, including smartphones and were closely monitored by the police, were briefed on the background of the case by a Syariah court officer.
The six strokes of the cane were carried out at 2.50 pm, with the accused receiving the punishment on his back. The entire process took just two minutes. Afterward, the man was escorted back to the special room, and by 3.01 pm, he was transported out of the mosque in a prison van.
Despite the crowd at the mosque, police successfully managed the situation and ensured the smooth execution of the sentence.
On Nov 20, Terengganu Syariah High Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail imposed the six-stroke caning sentence and a fine of RM4,000, or six months’ imprisonment if the fine was not paid, after the man pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 31(a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) (Amendment) Enactment 2022.
This sentence was issued due to the man’s third khalwat offence. He had previously been sentenced to four strokes in prison for his second offence on Feb 19 and fined RM3,000. On July 11 2023, he was fined RM2,700 for the same offence.
Under the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment, which came into effect on January 1, those committing khalwat offences for the second or subsequent times can face up to six strokes of the cane, a fine of up to RM5,000, or imprisonment for up to three years.
-- BERNAMA
