65-year-old man caught with 49-year-old woman in Melaka hotel room on 31 Aug
A 65-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were caught on 31 Aug — Malaysia’s Independence Day — in a hotel room in Melaka. They were subsequently arrested for “khalwat” (close proximity), an offence under Syariah law.
According to Sinar Harian, the unmarried couple claimed they were taking a break in the hotel room as they were tired from celebrations on the eve of Independence Day.
Source: Sinar Harian
Couple checked in to hotel after fireworks display on eve of Independence Day
According to State Education, Higher Education, and Religious Affairs executive committee member Rahmad Mariman, the man was from Johor, while the woman ran a food stall in Melaka.
During interrogations, the older man claimed he was in Melaka to visit his partner’s sick mother. The pair had then made plans to visit the city centre to watch the Independence Day fireworks display.
Tired from the celebrations, the couple reportedly checked into the hotel and were looking forward to catching the parade the next day.
Both begged for no further action
The couple begged for no further action to be taken against them, as “they would be embarrassed if their adult children knew about this”.
The couple were among 16 individuals charged under Section 53 of the Melaka Syariah Offences Enactment 1991 for cohabiting without a valid marital relationship.
The offence carries a penalty of up to RM3,000 (S$915), two years in prison, or both.
The couple were released on bail after giving their statements.
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Featured image adapted from Sinar Harian and Perbadanan Putrajaya on Facebook. Picture on the right is for illustration purposes only.
