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The whipping sentence of former Malaysian model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno has been upheld by the Kuantan Syariah High Court Appeals Panel. 32-year old Kartika was sentenced to six strokes of the rotan and a fine of 5,000 ringgits for drinking beer in a local bar.
A high court judge said that Kartika's sentence was within the jurisdiction provided under Section 136 of the Pahang Islamic Administration and Malay Customs Enactment 1982. "As the Pahang Syarie chief judge, I can make the review any time and I did so before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I found that the high court judge had acted accordingly. As such, the decision stays," The Star Online quoted chief judge Abdul Hamid Rahman, as saying.
Justice Rahman added that it is now prerogative to award the punishment to Kartika."It is now up to the Pahang Islamic Religious Department to implement the punishment. The department is responsible in enforcing the penalty imposed," he added. Her sentence was postponed once out of respect for the fasting month of Ramadan.