MELAKA: A 38-year-old Indonesian woman has been fined a total of RM5,000 by the Syariah High Court in Ayer Keroh here after admitting to offering sexual services and committing khalwat (close proximity) at a guesthouse in Bukit Cina here.
Senior Syariah High Court judge Abu Bakar Mohd Daud imposed the fines on Ika Sitepu after she pleaded guilty to both charges on Monday (Oct 12).
The accused was fined RM3,000 for prostitution under Section 75 of the Melaka Syariah Offences Enactment 1991 and RM2,000 for khalwat under Section 53(2) of the same enactment.
The court ordered her to serve six months in prison for each charge if she fails to pay the respective fines.
According to the first charge, the accused engaged in prostitution with a 44-year-old non-Muslim man at the guesthouse in Melaka Tengah at about 3pm on Oct 11.
For the second charge, she was accused for close proximity with the same man, who was not her husband, at the same place and time.
The facts of the case stated that Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) enforcement officers detained the accused during an anti-vice operation.
A search of the room uncovered a used condom in a plastic bag near the bed and RM60 in cash on a dressing table.
During questioning, the accused admitted to offering a massage lasting about 15 minutes for RM40, with an additional RM20 charged for sexual services.
Further enquiries revealed that she entered Malaysia on Sept 1 using a tourist pass and had been working at the guesthouse for about two weeks, offering massages and sexual services.
In mitigation, the accused, who was unrepresented, sought a lighter fine, saying she had to support three children following her husband's death.
The woman, who hails from Medan, Indonesia, pleaded for the court's leniency.
Melaka chief Syarie prosecutor Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad sought a punishment commensurate with the seriousness of the offences, citing the need for deterrence.
The accused paid both fines.
