The Star/Asia News Network
Friday, Feb 15, 2013
GEORGE TOWN - A hotel singer was among 20 Muslims nabbed in Penang for allegedly committing khalwat (close proximity) on Valentine's Day.
The woman, in her 30s, was found inside a motel room in Gelugor with a man, also in his 30s, by enforcement officers from the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department during an operation codenamed Ops Jejak Kasih.
It is learnt that they had opened the door to their room only after relentless knocking by the enforcement officers at about 1am yesterday. Upon interrogation, the woman claimed she was a divorcee.
Department enforcement head Khairul Azman Azizan said the raiding party also picked up three men and two women, all in their 20s, from another room at the same motel.
A couple were found sleeping on the bed while another couple were sleeping on a mattress laid on the floor.
The other man, who was found in a cupboard with a bedsheet, told the raiding party that he was sleeping there.
Khairul said the five claimed they lived nearby and had rented the room at the motel because it was air-conditioned.
He said the raiding party also nabbed a Muslim man, in his 50s, who was in another room at the motel with a non-Muslim woman.
He said the other 12 people, aged between 19 and 50, were caught in Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah and here during the six-hour operation which ended at 6am.
Khairul said the suspects would be investigated under Section 27 of the Penang Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment for committing khalwat. The offence carries a maximum RM3,000 fine or up to two years in jail or both.
Friday, Feb 15, 2013
GEORGE TOWN - A hotel singer was among 20 Muslims nabbed in Penang for allegedly committing khalwat (close proximity) on Valentine's Day.
The woman, in her 30s, was found inside a motel room in Gelugor with a man, also in his 30s, by enforcement officers from the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department during an operation codenamed Ops Jejak Kasih.
It is learnt that they had opened the door to their room only after relentless knocking by the enforcement officers at about 1am yesterday. Upon interrogation, the woman claimed she was a divorcee.
Department enforcement head Khairul Azman Azizan said the raiding party also picked up three men and two women, all in their 20s, from another room at the same motel.
A couple were found sleeping on the bed while another couple were sleeping on a mattress laid on the floor.
The other man, who was found in a cupboard with a bedsheet, told the raiding party that he was sleeping there.
Khairul said the five claimed they lived nearby and had rented the room at the motel because it was air-conditioned.
He said the raiding party also nabbed a Muslim man, in his 50s, who was in another room at the motel with a non-Muslim woman.
He said the other 12 people, aged between 19 and 50, were caught in Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah and here during the six-hour operation which ended at 6am.
Khairul said the suspects would be investigated under Section 27 of the Penang Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment for committing khalwat. The offence carries a maximum RM3,000 fine or up to two years in jail or both.
