Divorced couple detained for ‘khalwat’ in hotel

KLUANG – A man’s alleged attempt to meet his former wife ends with both being detained in a khalwat enforcement operation by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) at a hotel here on Sunday.

JAINJ said a team of enforcement officers arrived at the premises at 1.15am and knocked on the hotel room door, which was only opened after six to seven minutes despite the air-conditioning being switched on.

“The door was eventually opened by a man wearing long trousers and a T-shirt, and an inspection found a woman inside the room.

“When questioned, the pair claimed they were husband and wife but failed to produce any documents or a marriage certificate to verify their marital status,” it said in a statement.

JAINJ said further investigations found both individuals appeared nervous and gave doubtful responses during questioning.

“The woman, who lives and works in Kluang, was also unable to provide a reasonable explanation for staying overnight at the hotel,” it added.

It further stated that enforcement officers had offered to go to the woman’s home to verify the marriage or meet her parents, but the suggestion was rejected.

Due to the failure to produce valid proof and the existence of doubts arising from the interrogation, the couple was detained and brought to a police station and the JAINJ Enforcement Office for further action.

Investigations later revealed that the pair had previously been married but divorced about three to four years ago.

“Checks in the computerised marriage system confirmed both their marriage and divorce dates.

“It is understood that after the divorce, the man worked in another state and neither remarried, but they later reconnected and expressed their intention to marry again,” the statement read.

JAINJ said statements had been recorded and the couple will be charged under Section 27 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997.