M'sian mosque caretaker & cleaner fined S$1,565 each for trying to have sex in mortuary room

Two individuals, a former mosque caretaker and a cleaner, received identical fines of S$1,565 each in Malaysia's Melaka Syariah High Court. Mohd Rafi Abu Samah, 48, a widower with four children, and Norhaslinda Hashim, 51, a married mother of eight, pleaded guilty to attempting sexual acts in the mosque's mortuary room. Judge Mawardi Che Man deemed the crime particularly egregious due to the sensitive location.

The mortuary room, while separate from the main prayer hall, still falls within the mosque grounds. The court emphasized that while adultery can be punished by stoning under Islamic law, Malaysia's syariah legal system is flexible, aiming to deter such behavior. The judge sternly admonished the pair, reminding them of the sacred nature of the mortuary room.

If they fail to pay the fines, they face a potential 18 months in prison. The incident came to light after a police report alleging rape led to their arrest, despite the acts being consensual. Both pleaded guilty voluntarily, understanding the legal consequences. One partner earns a mosque committee allowance, while the other is a part-time cleaner at the mosque.