Caning of model deferred

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KUALA KANGSAR: Part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who was scheduled to be caned yesterday for drinking beer, has been released temporarily after religious authorities taking her to the Kajang prison literally made a U-turn.

Kartika was released temporarily as it was not advisable for the sentence to be meted out during the fasting month.

She will now be sentenced after Ramadan.

The Pahang Religious Department enforcement officers, who took Kartika in a van from her parent’s house in Sungai Siput near here, only went 200m away from the house before they were ordered to send her back.

Back to her family: Kartika is received by her father Shukarnor in Sungai Siput Monday after religuos enforcement officers sent her home shortly after picking her up.-Reuters

Kartika faces six strokes of the rotan for drinking beer in public but caning was deferred at the 11th hour.

In Kuantan, Pahang’s Religious Affairs, Dakwah, Unity and NGOs committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sahfri Abdul Aziz said the state religious department enforcement officers had gone to Kartika’s house in Sungai Siput, Perak, yesterday to issue a warrant of arrest for her to be sent to the Kajang Prison for the whipping sentence to be carried out.

“At the same time, they received a letter from the Attorney-General’s Chambers advising them to release Kartika temporarily.

“The sentence remains. She will be caned after the fasting month. It is true that Kartika has been released but it is temporary only,’’ he said.

The 32-year-old mother of two girls told reporters outside the district police contingent here in Kuala Kangsar that she wants to be whipped.

“No matter what, I still stand by my decision that I want to be whipped,”

On July 20, the Pahang Syariah High Court had fined Kartika RM5,000 and ordered her to be given six strokes of the rotan after she pleaded guilty to drinking beer at a hotel lounge in Cherating last year.

The enforcement officers picked up Kartika at about 9.30am but stopped by the roadside for some 40 minutes before eventually turning back at about 10.15am.

An argument ensued between the enforcement officers and Kartika’s father Shukarnor Abdul Mutalib, who was said to have been forced to take back his daughter.

”What is going to happen to me? There is no black and white stating what all this is about. Why do this to me? Why kick me around like a football? This is what’s causing me so much sadness,” Kartika said, before breaking down and sobbing.

Shukarnor told reporters that he and his daughter had lodged separate police reports to safeguard themselves in the matter.

The 60-year-old resort operator explained that Kartika had decided to go through with the caning to put an end to the agony she and the family had to go through for the past year.