Wednesday, February 10, 2010

July 22, 2009 17:57 PM

Model Wants Court To Expedite Whipping Sentence

IPOH, July 22 (Bernama) -- A part-time model who was fined RM5,000 and ordered to be whipped six times by the Kuantan Syariah High Court after pleading guilty to consuming beer, has expressed repentance and wants the court to expedite the whipping sentence.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor, 32, wants to get the ordeal over with as soon as possible so that she may focus on continuing life with her family and two children.

"I will accept this Earthly punishment, let Allah decide my punishment in the hereafter...for now the court has yet to tell me when the sentence will be carried out, so I would like to ask them to hasten it.

"I truly respect the court's decision...I admit that it's my offence and not that of others', it's not the offence of my parents, not the offence of my other family members," a teary Kartika Sari Dewi told reporters when met here, on Wednesday.

Kartika Sari Dewi, who has been residing in Singapore for the last 15 years after marrying a local citizen, also expressed disappointment in herself and resignation to her fate.

She added that her husband was aware of her desire to undergo the whipping sentence as soon as possible and respected her decision.

On the RM5,000 fine, she said she had settled it on Monday.

"I want to advise youngsters to learn from my experience, to not repeat my mistake and cause shame to yourself and family," she said.

Meanwhile, her father Shukarnor Mutalib, 60, said the punishment by the court adhered to the Islamic laws of the country for Muslims who consume alcohol.

"When I found out about the case, I left promptly for Singapore. My feelings on the matter was shock, because this is a big matter," he said.

He said his daughter was given adequate care and religious lessons and the the incident had taught her a very useful lesson.

Yesterday, her lawyer Mohd Zuki Che Muhamad Ghani had said that she would not be appealing the sentence.

-- BERNAMA

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