Cook to appeal cane for drinking
Source: Agencies |
April 9, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A COOK in a Malaysian religious school was sentenced to six strokes of the cane and a year in jail for drinking alcohol, the latest in harsh punishments from an Islamic judge.
The rulings by Judge Abdul Rahman Mohamad Yunos have focused attention on the stricter punishment prescribed by Islamic laws and raised fears that Malaysia, a traditionally moderate country, may be influenced by radical Islamists.
Consuming alcohol in public is an offense for Malaysian Muslims, who are 60 percent of the country's 28 million people. Offenders are usually warned or fined, but not in Abdul Rahman's court, the Shariah High Court in Pahang state.
In the latest case, he sentenced Mohamad Sabri Zulkepli, 24, to jail and six cane strokes.
The cook at a Muslim school pleaded guilty to drinking liquor at a mall in Pahang, said Mohamad Azhari Abdul Rahman, the court's chief registrar.
The Star and New Straits Times newspapers quoted the judge as saying that a jail sentence was better than a fine because Mohamad Sabri can't afford to use up his small earnings. He was also quoted as saying that the offender could get "proper guidance" and repent in jail.
"The accused can use the time spent in jail to reflect on how to lead a better life," The Star quoted him as saying.
Mohamad Sabri, who could have been jailed for up to three years, plans to appeal against his sentence, a court official said.
Last year, judge Abdul Rahman sentenced an Indonesian Muslim to a year in prison and six strokes of the cane for drinking liquor at a restaurant. And he sentenced a mother of two to caning for drinking beer at a beach resort last year, later commuted to community service.
(AP)
The rulings by Judge Abdul Rahman Mohamad Yunos have focused attention on the stricter punishment prescribed by Islamic laws and raised fears that Malaysia, a traditionally moderate country, may be influenced by radical Islamists.
Consuming alcohol in public is an offense for Malaysian Muslims, who are 60 percent of the country's 28 million people. Offenders are usually warned or fined, but not in Abdul Rahman's court, the Shariah High Court in Pahang state.
In the latest case, he sentenced Mohamad Sabri Zulkepli, 24, to jail and six cane strokes.
The cook at a Muslim school pleaded guilty to drinking liquor at a mall in Pahang, said Mohamad Azhari Abdul Rahman, the court's chief registrar.
The Star and New Straits Times newspapers quoted the judge as saying that a jail sentence was better than a fine because Mohamad Sabri can't afford to use up his small earnings. He was also quoted as saying that the offender could get "proper guidance" and repent in jail.
"The accused can use the time spent in jail to reflect on how to lead a better life," The Star quoted him as saying.
Mohamad Sabri, who could have been jailed for up to three years, plans to appeal against his sentence, a court official said.
Last year, judge Abdul Rahman sentenced an Indonesian Muslim to a year in prison and six strokes of the cane for drinking liquor at a restaurant. And he sentenced a mother of two to caning for drinking beer at a beach resort last year, later commuted to community service.
(AP)
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