Indonesia: Christian couple caned for gambling

Jakarta [Indonesia], Feb 28 (ANI): Authorities caned a Christian married couple on Tuesday after they were arrested for gambling at an entertainment centre in Banda Aceh in Indonesia.

The Aceh Sharia Court sentenced the couple, identified as Dahlan Sili Tongga, 61, and Tjia Nyuk Hwa, 45, to eight and seven lashes respectively for violating provincial laws. The caning took place outside the Babussalam Mosque in Lampaseh Aceh in the city, The Straits Times reported.

The couple was found guilty of violating a jinayat (Islamic bylaw) on gambling.

According to the sharia law, each lash is equivalent to a one-month imprisonment. Hence, it is believed that the couple preferred to receive corporal punishment.

The court also sentenced a 67-year-old man named Ridwan to 22 lashes for allowing gambling to take place on the premises. The authorities confiscated coins, vouchers and cash from him as well.

"This punishment shows our commitment (to implementing sharia). We want to create a deterrent so that other people do not violate sharia," Banda Aceh Mayor Aminullah Usman said, adding that the caning was deliberately carried out in an open space so that the public could see it.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that implements the sharia, although non-Muslims, who are found guilty of committing crimes are regulated under the province's criminal code such as gambling.

They can choose to either to be caned or serve a jail sentence as stipulated under the code. (ANI)