Kartika, a part-time model, pleaded guilty to consuming beer at the Cherating Bar Lounge of the Legend Hotel at 11.40pm on 11th July 2009. On 20th July, the Kuantan Syariah High Court fined her RM5,000 and ordered her to be given six strokes of the rotan. She has already paid the fine but still, after a delay of over six months, she has not been caned. This long period of waiting must be causing great distress both to Kartika and her family. However, she can take great comfort in knowing that she was not caught sipping beer whilst holidaying in Somalia.
An AFP report from Mogadishu on 22nd January 2010 states:
Somalia’s al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab Islamists on Thursday publicly chopped off the right hand of a man accused of stealing mobile phones, witnesses and officials said.
The punishment took place in the southern port town of Merka under the control of the extremist group, and where they have imposed strict Sharia, or Islamic law.
“This punishment is part of broad efforts to implement Sharia in the country. Anybody who steals gets his hands chopped off,” said Sheikh Isa Mohamed, a Shebab official.
The judge in the Islamic court in the region announced the sentence after the convict confessed to the charges against him.
Witnesses said that Yusuf Sheikh Ahmed, 30, was brought before a crowd, then had his right hand chopped off with a big knife.
The convict was then taken to a hospital after the punishment, Ali said.
Four other people accused of taking alcohol and drugs were whipped between 40 and 80 times each.
To return to Malaysia: MODEL-SENTENCE, COMMA. When will the FULL STOP be written? TO CANE KARTIKA OR NOT TO CANE KARTIKA – THAT IS THE QUESTION! To think that, in 2010, we in Malaysia should have to be faced with such a question.
Shame on us.
