Khalwat: Jerlun Umno Puteri chief and division secretary charged

The Jerlun Umno division Puteri chief and the division’s secretary were charged at a Syariah Lower Court here with allegedly committing khalwat in a house last month.

Yusmawati Yaacob, 31, and Jasmi Mohd Ismail, 47, pleaded not guilty to committing the offence on May 11, at about 1.20am.

They were arrested by the state Islamic Religious Department in a house at Taman Tunku Sarina at Bandar Darulaman near here.

Yusmawati, who is single, was charged under Section 9(2) of the Kedah Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 1988 while Jasmi was charged under Section 9(1) of the same Enactment.

Both face a fine of up to RM2,000, a year’s jail or both.

Their counsel Shukri Zakaria claimed the charge made against his clients was loose as it did not specify the exact crime committed by them.

He said the duo were alleged to have committed bersekedudukan, berkurung, bersembunyi, bersekediaman (close proximity, confined, hiding and living together) without specifying the exact term for the offence.

Kedah Islamic Religious Department syarie prosecution officer Juliana Ramli, however, said the prosecution would not change the charge that was read to both the accused.

Judge Kamaruslan Mustapha fixed July 4 for hearing.

- Star