GIRL RAPED IN SCHOOL BUS

Thursday July 29, 2010

Girl raped in school bus
By M. KUMAR
kumar@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: A school bus driver allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl in full view of other pupils in the bus.

A kindergarten teacher who was passing by heard screams for help and alerted members of the public, who caught the 51-year-old driver red-handed.

The incident took place along Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya, at 12.40pm on Monday.

It is learnt that the driver had stopped the bus by the roadside and approached his victim. He forcefully undressed her in front of the horrified children.

He then forced himself on the terrified girl.

People who went to the girl’s aid grabbed the man and bashed him up before handing him over to the police.

Meanwhile, another pupil, aged 12, lodged a report alleging she was molested by her school van driver in Kelana Jaya.

The 6.45pm incident allegedly took place near a disabled welfare centre when the girl was alone in the van and on her way to extra classes.

The 37-year-old driver allegedly grabbed her from behind and fondled her private parts.

The girl put up a fierce struggle and managed to free herself before running off and screaming for help.

The driver who chased after her gave up when he saw her seeking help from her friend.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed, who confirmed both cases, said police are looking for the van driver.

“The bus driver has been remanded until tomorrow.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said a special task force has been set up in light of the two incidents.

PROHIBIT SPORTS BETTING IS ILLEGAL?

Chor: Move to prohibit sports betting is illegal

By Kong See Hoh (The Sun)

KUALA LUMPUR (May 30, 2010): A Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government’s decision to ban a sports betting company from carrying out its operation, is against the constitution, and legal action can be taken against the state, says Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung.

Referring to the decision last Friday by the Penang government to ban sports betting in the state, Chor said since sports betting has been legalised, the PR state government's decision to stop the legalisation of sports betting in the state "is incorrect, and a violation of the law."

He said in any country, once a certain business is legalised, the operators have the rights to apply to the government to register for business.

“PR state governments, especially the Penang state government, should understand clearly that sports betting is no longer an illegal profession (in Malaysia)," Chor was quoted as saying by the Chinese press.

He pointed out that although the federal government has legalised sports betting, only non-Muslims are allowed to place bets and Muslims are strictly prohibited from getting involved.

Asked when the government will official re-issue the permit to Ascot Sports, which is wholly-owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Berjaya Corporation Berhad, Chor disclosed that the company had already applied to the Finance Ministry and the government is going through the final process of approval.

He said the government had approved sports betting in order to regulate such activities, which are currently being carried out illegally and rampantly.

He said many countries, especially European countries, understood the problem and had overcome it by legalising sports betting.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad also expressed the view that sports betting had to be legalised to control the industry.

Commenting on the government's move to legalise sports betting Mahathir said if sports betting was not legalised, it would still go on illegally.

While not denying that the tax revenue would help to fill government coffers, Mahathir said: "Muslims should not be involved, and I don't think they (the government) will allow them to be involved in it."

"But there will be Muslims involved in illegal betting," he said after presenting the keynote address at the 5th Malaysian Conference on Healthy Ageing last week. -- theSun

http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=47325

ISU BUKAN ISLAM JADI PEGUAM SYARIE?

Assalamualaikum wbt dan salam sejahtera.

1. Isu seorang peguam wanita bukan beragama Islam, Victoria Jayaseelee Martin, yang berjaya memperolehi kebenaran Mahkamah Tinggi Sivil Kuala Lumpur bagi mendapatkan semakan kehakiman untuk beliau berkhidmat sebagai peguam di Mahkamah Syariah Kuala Lumpur menjadi isu perbualan hangat dikalangan para akademik, pelajar undang-undang mahupun orang biasa (layman).
2. Memahami fakta kes dan perjalanan prosiding mahkamah dengan penuh teliti dan berhati-hati amatlah penting sebelum kenyataan melulu dikeluarkan.
   
3. Dalam kes ini, pemohon telah membawa perkara ini ke Mahkamah Sivil untuk membuat satu semakan kehakiman bagi mencabar keputusan Jawatankuasa Peguam Syarie yang menolak permohonan beliau untuk menjadi peguam syarie. Sebelum sampai ke proses itu beliau perlu mendapat perintah keizinan dari mahkamah tinggi untuk memulakan tindakan tersebut. Permohonan untuk mendapatkan `leave` ini yang telah diluluskan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Sivil baru-baru ini.
   
4. Pemohon belum lagi dibenarkan oleh pihak mahkamah untuk menjadi peguam syarie. Pihak mahkamah hanya membenarkan pemohon untuk membuat semakan kehakiman untuk mencabar keputusan Jawatankuasa Peguam Syarie yang telah menolak pemohonan beliau.
   
5. Justeru, tidak timbul isu mahkamah telah membenarkan peguam bukan Islam menjadi peguam syarie.
6. Sebagai persediaan untuk menghadapi kes semakan kehakiman ini, saya mengesyorkan untuk kita buat satu kajian yang mendalam dengan merujuk proviso yang terdapat di dalam Kaedah-Kaedah Peguam Syarie di setiap negeri dan juga merujuk perbahasan dalam kitab-kitab Fiqh. Mungkin juga boleh rujuk bab Al-Wakalah dalam sub topik Wakalah bil al-Khusumah.
   

Husaini Hussein

ANOTHER CASE ON DRINKING LIQOUR

Whipping and jail for cook who drank liquor
(www.thestar.com.my)


KUANTAN: A cook at a religious school has been sentenced to a year’s jail and ordered to be whipped six times for consuming liquor.

Mohd Sabri Zulkepli, 24, pleaded guilty at the Kuantan Syariah High Court yesterday to committing the offence in Kuantan Parade about 5.30pm on Feb 13.

His jail sentence runs from Feb 13, the date of his arrest.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdul Rahman Mohd Yunos said the court felt a jail sentence would be a good lesson for the accused.

He rejected Mohd Sabri’s mitigation plea for a fine of RM2,000 and to be whipped three times.

The court, he said, was of the vi­­­­ew that a maximum fine of RM5,000 should have been imposed on the accused.

“However, he earns RM550 a month and he comes from a poor family. He may not be able to pay the fine,” he said.

“The accused can use the time spent in jail to reflect on how to lead a better life,” he said.

Mohd Sabri had initially claimed trial to the charge on Feb 18. However, he changed his plea on March 3.

Outside the court, Mohd Sabri’s father, Zulkepli, told reporters that they would appeal against the sentence.

KOLEJ DISAMAN CUAI JAGA KESELAMATAN SEHINGGA SISWI DIROGOL

Pelajar Kejururawatan Fail Saman RM5 Juta Terhadap Kolejnya
(www.mstar.com.my)

KOTA BHARU: Seorang pelajar perempuan sebuah kolej perubatan swasta hari ini memfailkan saman sebanyak RM5 juta terhadap pengurusan kolejnya itu kerana dakwaan berlaku cuai dalam menjaga keselamatan pelajar sehingga dirinya dirogol.

Peguam plaintif Mohd Zubairi Salleh dan Mohd Rafizi Abdullah memfailkan saman itu di pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi di sini.

Plaintif menamakan Masterskill (M) Sdn Bhd yang beribu pejabat di alamat G-8, Jalan Kemacahaya 11, Taman Kemacahaya, Batu 9, Cheras, Selangor yang mempunyai kampus cawangannya di sini beralamat di Seksyen 19, Jalan Hamzah sebagai defendan.

Mengikut pernyataan tuntutannya, semasa kejadian plaintif merupakan seorang penuntut tahun pertama Diploma Kejururawatan dan penghuni asrama yang disediakan kolej itu.

Pada 9 Februari lalu kira-kira pukul 8.15 pagi, sewaktu plaintif berada dalam asrama kolej defendan di Tanjung Mas, di sini, plaintif bersama lima rakan sebilik telah didatangi seorang lelaki yang tidak dikenali dengan cara dipercayai memasuki asrama dan menceroboh masuk bilik mereka.

Lelaki tersebut kemudiannya bertanyakan kepada mereka siapa yang bernama "Serena" di dalam bilik tersebut namun setelah dimaklumkan bahawa tiada perempuan yang bernama "Serena" di kalangan mereka, lelaki itu terus meninggalkan bilik plaintif.

Setelah melihat lelaki itu keluar, plaintif kemudiannya keluar menuju ke bilik air untuk mandi tetapi secara tiba-tiba lelaki tadi menolak pintu bilik air tersebut dan terus meluru masuk ke bilik air itu.

Plaintif cuba untuk menyelamatkan diri tetapi penceroboh itu bertindak mengeluarkan pisau dan mengacu ke arah plaintif menyebabkan plaintif tidak mampu untuk melawan dan kemudiannya berlaku kejadian rogol tersebut dan lelaki itu kemudiannya melarikan diri.

Sehubungan itu plaintif mendakwa kejadian itu berlaku akibat kecuaian langsung defendan atau ejennya yang didapati cuai dalam menjaga keselamatan plaintif sehingga seorang penceroboh boleh memasuki asrama defendan.

Kejadian rogol itu menyebabkan plaintif kehilangan masa depan dan maruah diri kerana sebelum kejadian itu keluarga plaintif telah meletakkan kepercayaan penuh ke atas defendan untuk menjaga keselamatan diri plaintif di asrama dengan andaian bahawa asrama defendan selamat daripada semua aspek keselamatan.

Akibat daripada tindakan kecuaian defendan itu, plaintif sehingga kini masih lagi terkejut dan malu serta mendapati dirinya terus menerus mengalami keaiban, kesusahan dan tekanan hidup.

Kegagalan defendan melaksanakan kewajipan berhati-hati ke atas plaintif, kehidupan plaintif menjadi kelam kabut akibat tafsiran serong rakan-rakan, masyarakat dan sahabat handai. Kesemua musibah yang menimpa mengakibatkan tekanan perasaan dan trauma yang berpanjangan ke atas diri plaintif.

Biarpun notis tuntutan bertarikh 10 Mac lalu telah dibuat dan dikemukakan plaintif terhadap defendan, namun sehingga kini defendan masih gagal atau cuai untuk menjelaskan tuntutan tersebut.

Atas faktor itu, plaintif menuntut defendan membayar ganti rugi teladan sebanyak RM3 juta, ganti rugi bagi kecederaan perasaan, trauma dan tekanan mental sebanyak RM2 juta, ganti rugi am, kos tindakan dan faedah pada kadar yang difikirkan adil dan sesuai oleh mahkamah dalam kes itu. - BERNAMA

PEGUAM PECAH AMANAH!

Bekas Peguam Dipenjara 3 Tahun, Denda RM12,000 Kerana Pecah Amanah
(www.mstar.com.my)

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang bekas peguam dihukum penjara tiga tahun dan denda RM12,000 oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di sini selepas didapati bersalah atas tuduhan pecah amanah melibatkan wang berjumlah RM117,000 milik pelanggannya, lapan tahun lalu.

Hakim Rozana Ali Yusoff menjatuhkan hukuman itu terhadap S. Nachiappan, 57, setelah mendapati pihak pembelaan gagal menimbulkan keraguan munasabah.

"Sebagai seorang peguam, kamu tidak boleh sesekali pecah amanah terhadap wang yang diamanahkan oleh anak guam kepada kamu," katanya.Nachiappan disabitkan atas kesalahan melakukan pecah amanah membabitkan cek bernilai RM117,000 milik sebuah syarikat pembangunan, SAN-IST Sdn Bhd., di Tingkat 4, Wisma Mohd Ebrahim, No 87, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, di sini, pada 17 April 2002.

Dia didakwa melakukan kesalahan itu mengikut Seksyen 409 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga 20 tahun dan sebat dan denda.

Seramai enam saksi pendakwaan dan dua saksi pembelaan, termasuk tertuduh, memberi keterangan semasa perbicaraan itu.

Peguam R. Murugan, yang mewakili tertuduh, merayu supaya hukuman ke atas anak guamnya diringankan kerana Nachiappan telah menyesali perbuatannya dan tidak bekerja sejak 2004.

"Tertuduh juga turut melalui beberapa masalah sepanjang kesnya berjalan dan itu sudah menjadi satu hukuman ke atas tertuduh," katanya.

Murugan memohon agar hukuman ke atas tertuduh ditangguhkan.

Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Charanjit Singh meminta agar hukuman setimpal dikenakan ke atas Nachiappan kerana tertuduh merupakan seorang penjawat awam dan walaupun tertuduh menyesali perbuatannya, ia sudah terlambat ibarat "nasi sudah menjadi bubur".

Rozana membenarkan penangguhan pelaksanaan hukuman sementara rayuan didengar. Tertuduh dibenarkan ikat jamin sebanyak RM60,000 dengan seorang penjamin. - BERNAMA

GOVT AGREES TO INTER-FAITH COMMITTEE

Govt agrees to inter-faith committee (update)
(www.thestar.com.my)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has agreed to the formation of a special inter-faith committee to promote better religious understanding between Islam and other religious faiths.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the committee will be headed by former Kota Baru MP Datuk Ilani Isahak, who will be appointed as the special coordinator.

Members will comprise representatives from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

"The committee is not a legal structure; it's not a rigid structure. It's a framework to provide exchange of ideas on religion.

"We don't want to call it an inter-faith panel, but a special committee to promote understanding and harmony among the various faiths.

"The idea of the committee is for the members to hold informal dialogues, not on only one issue, but also matters such as inter-marriages, religious conversions as well as custody of children.

"The committee will exchange their views and we will get feedback and get a better understanding on religious issues," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday.

Dr Koh, who is charge of national unity and integrity, said he will report the committee's activities to the Cabinet from time to time.

He added the formation of the committee was first proposed in January and the Cabinet gave its approval in February.

There have been numerous calls for the formation of an inter-faith panel aimed at promoting religious understanding.

The calls became much louder following the controversy over a High Court ruling on the use of the word "Allah" by The Herald , a publication by the Catholic church.

However, the idea for the formation of an inter-faith council was rejected by various Muslim groups.

Dr Koh said Ilani was chosen to head the committee because she had good personal contacts with the country's religious leaders.

"We decided this will be the best set-up rather than involving politicians. Let the religious leaders sit down and talk to each other," he added

MUSLIM WOMEN, DON'T SLEEP ON YOUR RIGHT!

A wife's rights to hubby's assets
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB


newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Very few Muslim women know that they are entitled to claim harta sepen­carian which can amount to half of their husband’s assets upon the latter’s death.

It is common for women to stake a claim for harta sepencarian (joint assets accrued during the marriage) in divorce but not in death, said AmanahRaya Legacy Services CEO Rafie Omar.

“This is because Muslim widows do not know their rights and entitlement. They think that if they have children, they are entitled only to one-eighth of the husband’s assets (under the faraid system) and if they have no children, they think they can get only a quarter of the husband’s assets.

“But women in Malaysia contribute to the success of their husbands, so the women should claim and are entitled to a portion of the harta sepencarian if they can show they contributed,” said Rafie in an interview.

He said this was on top of the faraid (Islamic inheritance law and distribution of estate) portion the wife would get.

Hence the difference between Case 1 and Case 2. In the first case, Zainab knew that as a wife, she could claim up to 50% of her spouse’s assets under harta sepencarian. So she received RM500,000 from her share of harta sepencarian and another RM62,500 as her faraid share (which is one-eighth of the remaining RM500,000).

Kamariah, on the other hand, was not aware of harta sepencarian and made no claim for it. As a result she received only RM125,000 which is one-eighth of RM1mil.

(In both cases, the rest of the money and assets were divided among the children with the boys getting twice the share of their sisters).

Under the faraid system, a wife with children would get one-eighth of her husband’s assets and she is entitled to a quarter of her husband’s assets if they have no children.

“If I die leaving RM100,000 in assets and my widow can show that she contributed to the sum, she is entitled to half of it and will get RM 50,000 first. Then from the remaining RM50,000, she will get her one-quarter share (if the couple has no kids) or one-eighth (with kids),” he said.

Rafie said even if the woman was a housewife who stayed home and looked after the kids, she could still claim for harta sepencarian.

“She can say that having a good wife at home made his life comfortable and easy for him to earn a living. If she can prove this in court, depending on the judge and evidence given, she is likely to be apportioned 30% to 50% of the harta sepencarian,” he added.

When such a claim is pending in court, Amanahraya (Malaysia’s premier trustee company) would suspend the faraid distribution until the matter is settled“We will pay the harta sepencarian entitlement first. And then distribute the balance under the faraid,” said Rafie.

Under the faraid system, if a wife has no children and no male relative, she gets a quarter of her husband’s assets and the remaining three quarters go to Baitul Mal (the treasury under the states’ Islamic councils), which is why it is important for her to claim the assets under harta sepencarian.

If the wife can prove to Baitul Mal that she was the one who paid for everything, it may even renounce its right to the assets.

On polygamous marriages, the wives should also know their rights to the harta sepencarian.

Citing an example, Rafie said that Mr A married Madam B for 20 years and acquired RM10,000 during their marriage. Then took a second wife, a Madam C, who is the daughter of a rich man. His business thrived because of her contacts and he subsequently acquired RM10mil. Later, he married Madam D and did not acquire much during his marriage with the third woman.

Would all his three wives be entitled to equal share after his death?

“If he leaves behind RM10mil upon death, it is not fair to his second wife if the wife’s portion of one-eighth under faraid is to be divided equally among the three wives (with each getting a 1/24 share). Because it was during his second marriage that he made his money. “So, his second wife should claim under the harta sepencarian that it was during his marriage to her that he became richer. She has to prove that it was the second marriage that made him richer and not the first or third. If she does that, she can walk away with up to 50% of his assets,” said Rafie.

Case 1: Zai­nab’s husband Ismail dies and leaves behind assets comprising savings, EPF and a link house worth a total of about RM1mil. They have two boys and two girls. She receives RM562,500 as her share from the assets.

Case 2: Kamariah is married to Sabri who leaves behind assets worth about RM1mil when he dies. However, she is apportioned only RM125,000. She too has two boys and two girls.

BAPA MUALLAF GAGAL DAPAT HAK PENJAGAAN ANAK

Mahkamah Tolak Permohonan Penangguhan Perintah Hak Penjagaan Anak
(Mstar.com.my)

IPOH: Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini menolak permohonan seorang bapa supaya menangguhkan perintah hak penjagaan anak bongsunya yang diperoleh oleh bekas isterinya M. Indira Gandhi bulan lepas.

Peguam Indira Gandhi, M. Kulasegaran, berkata Hakim Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim membuat keputusan berkenaan dalam kamar selepas mendapati tiada keistimewaan dalam permohonan yang dikemukakan oleh bekas suaminya Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah.

Katanya mahkamah juga memerintahkan Mohd Ridzuan supaya segera menyerahkan Prasana Diksa, yang akan genap usia dua tahun Khamis depan, kepada guru tadika berusia 35 tahun itu.

Pada 11 Mac lalu, Hakim Wan Afrah memerintahkan hak penjagaan anak bongsu itu diserahkan kepada Indira Gandhi selepas kes perebutan hak penjagaan itu berlarutan sejak tahun lepas.

Kulasegaran berkata sekiranya Mohd Ridzuan gagal menyerahkan anak itu maka dia akan memulakan prosiding menghina mahkamah yang memperuntukan hukuman penjara.

Dalam pada itu, peguam Mohd Ridzuan, Mohammad Faizal Che Yusof, berkata pihaknya telah memfailkan rayuan penangguhan pelaksanaan kehakiman itu pada 11 Mac lalu dan sedang menunggu tarikh perbicaraan di Mahkamah Rayuan.

Pada 24 April 2009, mahkamah membenarkan permohonan ex-parte oleh Indira Gandhi, untuk mendapatkan hak penjagaan sementara tiga anaknya dan injunksi menghalang bekas suaminya itu daripada memasuki rumah mereka.

Bagaimanapun, pada 5 Mei 2009, mahkamah membenarkan permohonan Mohd Ridzuan untuk menangguhkan perintah hak penjagaan sementara ketiga-tiga anak yang diperoleh Indira Gandi.

Pada 29 Oktober lepas pula, Mahkamah Syariah memberikan hak penjagaan ketiga-tiga anak itu kepada Mohd Ridzuan.

Indira Ghandi, ketika ditemui di luar mahkamah, berkata beliau masih menunggu bekas suaminya atau mana-mana pihak penjaganya menyerahkan anak bongsu mereka itu.

"Harapan saya adalah untuk berjumpa anak saya. Serahkanlah anak saya segera. Saya membuat persediaan untuk menyambut ulang tahun kelahirannya pada 8 April ini," katanya.

Kes itu mendapat perhatian ramai kerana wujud konflik antara bidang kuasa Mahkamah Syariah dan Mahkamah Sivil dalam menentukan hak penjagaan anak selepas salah seorang pasangan memeluk Islam. - BERNAMA

TUN DR M QUESTIONING COURT POWER?

CONTEMPT
By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on April 1, 2010 4:09 PM

1. One of the principles in law which is believed to ensure that justice is done is that disputes must be settled by a third party.

2. No one should be the prosecutor, the judge and the executioner. In fact the aggrieved party should never be the prosecutor and the judge. Obviously the aggrieved party would be biased in favour of himself.

3. Matthias Chang is now in jail. His crime, if we can call it a crime, is that of allegedly showing contempt of court i.e. not showing the right respect of the judge. Because the judge feels he or she has not been shown respect, then the judge has punished him by sentencing him to a fine or jail. Matthias has refused to pay the fine because it would amount to admission of guilt.

4. It would seem that what was regarded as contempt on the part of the court was Matthias' expression of lack of confidence in the judge who for some reason seemed to Matthias to be biased. Matthias had said he was going to appeal to a higher court over the behaviour of the judge towards him and his lawyers.

5. Is a person, feeling aggrieved over his treatment by a judge not allowed to say that he is not happy with the judge and wishes to appeal to a higher authority?

6. Is an aggrieved person not allowed to claim that a judge is biased? In several recent cases an accused person has demanded that the judge recuse himself for being biased. Indeed we hear of an accused person demanding that the prosecutors be changed because of allegedly being bias. And in fact the persons concerned, who were only doing the work they had officially been tasked with, were not allowed to carry out their usual work.

7. I write this with trepidation because I too can be charged with contempt. But I feel there is a miscarriage of justice here, even if the law seems to uphold the process.

8. If a judge feels that a litigant or an accused person has been in contempt of his court, then the judge should get a third party, and another court to determine whether indeed there is a case for contempt or not and to determine the punishment.

MY LORD, I BEG TO DIFFER

Kartika says she would rather be caned
By Debra Chong (The Malaysian Insider)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno would rather be caned than undergo community service.

The mother of two was sentenced to six strokes of the rotan and fined RM5,000 for drinking beer at a hotel in Cherating two years ago.

The caning sentence was replaced earlier this week by the Sultan of Pahang who is also the head of Islam in the state.

He ordered her to perform community service at a children’s home in Kuantan for three weeks. Kartika (picture), 33, said she respected the Sultan’s decision and would follow it.

But when asked if she thinks it would have been better for her to undergo the original sentence, she said firmly:

“Yes. Because they already sentenced me. If they couldn’t make it, they should have asked their legal advisers.”

“I don’t want Islam to be fitnahed (sic)... For those who study law, this thing is not in the enactment,” she added, referring to the Islamic criminal law.

She declined to comment when asked if the change was just.

She pointed out that it was the Sultan’s prerogative. Kartika said she would abide by his order because she respected his authority.

Kartika, 33, was speaking to reporters at a hastily-arranged conference here after meeting up with her sister who had just bussed in.

The former model was also accompanied by her father and uncle.

The Perakian said they were leaving immediately for Pahang.

She was required to meet the state’s Islamic religous enforcers at their office in Kuantan at 9am sharp tomorrow.

The Pahang Islamic Religion and Malay Adat Resam Council had on March 26 issued Kartika a letter stating that the sultan had ordered her sentence to be replaced.

The letter directed her to serve at the Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children’s Home in Kuantan for three weeks from April 2.

Kartika said she was only told the work required her to be indoors. She added that she would only know the rest after speaking with the enforcers.

Kartika who had recently split from her husband said she had learnt a lot from the episode.

“I truly regret drinking that alcoholic beverage,” she said, casting her large expressive eyes downwards.

She appeared flustered by the media attention. Asked if she now considered her case closed, she said: “I don’t know yet, the thing is not settled. I hope this thing can be settled. I leave the rest to be resolved by the experts.”

Kartika, who is currently unemployed, said she was still uncertain about her future but hoped to pursue plans involving the care of her firstborn Muhammad Azfar Affandi, 10, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

She politely declined to elaborate.

KARTIKA ESCAPES CANING SENTENCE

Part-time model Kartika escapes caning sentence
By SIRA HABIBU and NIK NAIZI HUSIN


newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The caning sentence imposed by the Kuantan Syariah High Court on former part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor has been commuted to community service on the orders of the Sultan of Pahang.

Her father Shukarnor Abdul Mutalib said she received a letter on the matter from the Pahang State Islamic and Ma­­lay Culture Coun­­cil yesterday.

The Syariah High Court had on July 20 last year ordered Kartika to be caned six times and fined RM5,000 after she was caught consuming alcohol at a hotel in Cherating on July 11, 2008.


Relieved: Kartika telling journalists in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that she will follow the Sultan’s orders. – AFP

Kartika settled the fine and her case attracted international attention.

He said the letter stated that Kartika had to perform community service at the Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children’s Home in Kuantan for three weeks beginning today.

“The council officers asked me to send my daughter in by 9am. They told me that they were not coming to pick her up,’’ Shukarnor said in a telephone interview from Sungei Siput.

In the letter dated March 26, council deputy president Datuk Seri Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan stated that the Sultan had consented to reducing the sentence to community service following Kartika’s meeting with the Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on March 3.

“We will abide by the Sultan’s orders,’’ said Shukarno, 60.

Kartika had recently divorced her husband who is staying in Singapore.

The court’s order for Kartika to be caned had attracted international attention.

Tengku Abdullah said the decision was made over the last two weeks considering that it was Kartika’s first such offence, adding that the other ground was that a woman was involved.

Tengku Abdullah said the decision was the sole prerogative of Sultan Ahmad Shah as provided for under the Pahang Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 2002.

Kartika said she felt “tortured” while waiting to be caned and now feels the punishment should have been carried out.

“But I will follow the Sultan’s orders,” AP quoted her as saying.