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Malaysiain Model To Be Caned For Drinking Beer

by candice.tsuei | August 19, 2009 at 03:16 pm

369 views | 6 Recommendations | 5 comments

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a 32-year-old Muslim part-time model, has been sentenced to a caning after admitting to having a beer in a nightclub last year, and has become the first woman in Malaysia to be given the punishment under Islamic law.

Kartika has paid a fine of £860 for consuming alcohol. She will have to be detained for seven days effective Aug 24 and will be whipped with six strokes. Though faced with harsh sentence, she has decided not to appeal.

"I accept the punishment," she said. "I am not afraid because I was ready to be punished from day one. [The authorities] hope to use my case as a way to educate Muslims. So go ahead. I want to move on with my life."

Kartika was charged under Section 136 of the Pahang Islamic and Malay Tradtional Practices Enactment (Amendment) 1987, which states that those found guilty of consuming alcohol, "can be fined up to RM5,000 or jailed for a maximum of three years, or both, and sentenced to six strokes of the rotan."

In Islamic law, the cane should not be thicker than the little finger on the hand and that the cane cannot be lifted so high that the upper arm is lifted away from the armpit.

"It is a good punishment because under Islamic law a person who drinks commits a serious offense," said prosecutor Saiful Idham Sahimi. He added the cane will be lighter than the one used for men, and its purpose was to "educate" rather than punish.

Kartika's case has provoked anger among various women's rights groups, who fear that the conservative Islamic influence would diminish women's rights in Malaysia.

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jazzyzazzy

at 16:01 on August 19th, 2009

Absolutely crazy...................and................un human punishment.! what in the name of god is that all about.

Barry Artiste

at 21:31 on August 19th, 2009

Certainly insane, as I have said before, When in Rome...........or should I say Malaysiain. Makes one appreciate the West!

alec (not verified)

at 23:34 on August 19th, 2009

"admitting to having a bear in a nightclub last year"

a bear?

candice.tsuei

at 23:49 on August 19th, 2009

Oh my...thanks for catching it!

Blue Crush

at 22:00 on August 23rd, 2009

Looks like they had second thoughts ...

Authorities had picked up Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, from her father's house Monday morning and were taking her to a prison in the eastern state of Pahang when the car turned around and brought her back.
"They sent her back to the house. They said the top official asked them not to bring her to Kuala Lumpur," said Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttalib.