Shariah judge Hamidi Shafie meted out the sentence on Affendi Awang, 42, who pleaded guilty to the charge, under Section 31 (a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Takzir) (Terengganu) Amendment 2022 which came into force on Jan 1.

Hamidi ordered Affendi to be caned four times and fined RM3,000, in default six months in jail, for the offence, with the caning to be carried out within 14 days from today, if there is no appeal.

Affendi pleaded guilty to being with a woman in her 30s who is not his wife or “mahram” between 1.10am and 2.15am on Jan 25, at a site that was undergoing renovation in the Kemaman district.

The caning sentence was imposed on Affendi as it was his second offence. He was fined in July last year for a similar offence.

Based on the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Takzir) (Terengganu) Amendment 2022, a person convicted of khalwat for the second and subsequent times can be punished with up to six strokes of the cane, a fine of up to RM5,000 or three years in prison.

In his ruling, Hamidi said the punishment meted out on Affendi was also intended to serve as a lesson for him and the society.

“That is why the caning sentence meted out in the shariah court and the civil court is different. In the civil court, on the surface, it looks like a punishment, while under the shariah court, the caning is lighter, to serve as a lesson.

“It is hoped that it can also be a lesson to Affendi not to repeat it since this is his second offence,” he said.

The prosecution was handled by shariah prosecutor Khasmizan Abdullah, while Affendi was not represented.