Another woman sentenced to caning in Terengganu

Yet another woman has been sentenced to caning in Terengganu, for being involved in prostitution.

According to reports, the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur ordered the twice-divorced 45-year-old to four strokes of the rotan, and to undergo rehabilitation at the Baitul Ehsan Women's Shelter in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, for six months, after she pleaded guilty to a prostitution charge.

The woman was reportedly caught in a room with a man believed to be her client, during a raid at a hotel in Pulau Duyong, around 11pm on Sept 19.

Enforcers from the Terengganu Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT) reportedly seized items like unused condoms, bottles of oil and lubricant gel from the room.

In sentencing her, Syarie Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail said: "You are already 45 years old and should be matured enough to differentiate between wrong and right,” according to Bernama.

He gave the woman 14 days to appeal against her caning sentence, and ordered the caning to be carried out at the Kajang Women’s Prison in Selangor, if she did not appeal in the 14 days.

The charge, under Section 25 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment 2001, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

This is the third case of caning in Terengganu, involving women.

Last month, a 30-year-old divorcee was sentenced by the same court to six months in prison, and six strokes of the rotan, for offering sexual services.

The single mother, who is from Selangor, was arrested when she was with a man, believed to be her client, in a room at Felda Residence Hotel in Kuala Terengganu, at about 11.45pm last Sept 17.

Also earlier last month, two women were given six strokes of the cane each by the same court, for being involved in same-sex relations.

The sentence was carried out within the courtroom, in full view of the public gallery by a masked female caning officer from the Kajang Prison.

The duo, aged 22 and 32, was caught by Islamic law enforcers in April while in a car. They later pleaded guilty and were handed the punishment, along with an RM3,300 fine each.

Both caning incidents have courted flak from civil right groups, as well as lawyers alike. - Mkini