BEIJING, August 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Kartika Sari Dewa Shukarno, who was convicted of drinking in public and sentenced to six lashes of the cane, has been freed by Malaysian authorities.
The reason for her release is not entirely clear though prison rules require anyone who is to be canes must be in detention first. However legal experts said at the weekend that it was not right to detain Ms Kartika since she had not been given a jail sentence by the Islamic court.
A van had taken her from her northern Malaysian home to put her in detention so that she could be caned sometime this week. But after half an hour the van returned, with officials saying the sentence would not be carried out. A senior Shariah court judge and some lawyers have said she cannot be caned unless she is in jail, and as she was not given a jail sentence, she cannot be caned. As such it creates a paradox for Malaysia's court system.
Kartika had pleaded guilty to the offence under Islamic and would have been the first woman in Malaysia to be punished in such a way，saying she wanted to deter others from committing similar offences. "I want to send a message that I really regret what I did, so I want to be punished in front of other people," Kartika said from her northern home state of Perak. "If other Muslims can see me being caned, I hope it will convince them not to drink."
Malaysian authorities say the purpose of caning is to "educate" rather than punish. But the penalty has led to criticism by some politicians and women's rights activists who claim it is still too harsh. The law in Malaysia allows for a three year prison term and caning for Muslims caught drinking, but most offenders are fined. Drinking is legal for non-Muslims.
(Agencies)
