Religion of Peace update

Malaysian Islamic court orders woman caned for having a beer

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (AP) - (Kyodo)—A Malaysian Islamic court sentenced a part-time Singaporean model to six strokes of the cane and a 5,000 ringgit ($1,416) fine for drinking beer in a nightclub, the New Straits Times reported Tuesday.

The Syariah High Court in Kuantan, capital of Pahang State, handed down the ruling after Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Consuming alcohol is prohibited for Muslims, but it is very rare for the syariah court to impose caning on women.

"The caning is aimed at making the accused repent and serves as a lesson to Muslims," Judge Abdul Rahman Yunus was quoted saying.

He imposed the maximum penalty allowed under the state Islamic law. If the fine is not paid, Kartika faces three years in jail.

According to the newspaper, this is the second time the Kuantan court has made such a ruling.

The first was against a waitress who was arrested with Kartika and another man during a raid by the religious vice squad on a hotel nightclub in Cherating, a popular beach resort near Kuantan, in July last year.

The waitress and the man were also sentenced to fines of 5,000 ringgit and six strokes of the cane.

All three are appealing.