Syariah Court will not easily amend Kartika's caning sentence

2009/11/18

KUANTAN The Pahang State Legislative Assembly was told today that the Syariah Court here would not amend the caning sentence imposed on part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno just to fulfill popular demand. State Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Datuk Mohamad Sahfri Ab Aziz said as long as the ruling was fair and did not contravene the syarak (Islamic law), it would not be amended.

"This is because the Syariah Court is always firm on its decision even though it is deluged with complaints and disputes over Kartika Sari's caning sentence," he said in reply to Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah (BN-Sungai Lembing) today.

He said the Syariah Law in Pahang stipulated that whoever questioned or showed total disregard to the Syarie Court's decision, could be charged with contempt of court.

"Section 210 of the Pahang Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 2002 also states that the court has the power to punish anybody who commits contempt of court with a fine of not more than RM1,000," he said.

Mohamad Sahfri said anyone who failed to adhere to the court's decision could also be charged under Section 169 of the Pahang Islamic Administration and Malay Customs Enactment 1982 (amended 1987), which carries a fine of not more than RM2,000, or imprisonment not exceeding a year, or both, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, in reply to Norolazali Sulaiman's (BN-Guai) supplementary question on how the government planned to tackle the issue in the future, Mohamad Sahfri said only the Pahang government imposed the mandatory caning penalty for consuming alcohol.

"So, if convicted, the judge can pass the sentence as stipulated by the law and

I'm sure it will be implemented in the future. The only problem now is that this is the first time a woman was being sentenced under the provision," he said, adding that the state government would strive to ensure stiffer penalties were imposed on offenders in the future. - Bernama