JOHOR BAHRU – A married man and a single mother were detained by religious enforcement officers after they were suspected of khalwat (close proximity) in an apartment in Johor Bahru during a recent operation.
The raid at about 3am was conducted by officers from the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) following public information and intelligence gathered over several days prior to action being taken at the location.
According to a statement, upon arrival, checks were conducted after a teenage boy opened the door at the residence.
“The enforcement officers introduced themselves and requested cooperation from the occupants before further inspection was carried out inside the house,” the statement said.
During the inspection, a man was found in a bedroom with a woman who was neither his mahram nor his wife.
Both were then asked to explain their presence at the premises.
“The man and woman were found together in a room in a situation that raised suspicion and preliminary investigations found that they were not a married couple,” the statement added.
It is understood that the man, in his 30s, is married with children, while the woman is a single mother and is believed to be a colleague at the same workplace.
“The case is being investigated under Section 27 of the state Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment for suspected khalwat,” the statement added.