At the stroke of midnight today (Jan 1), thousands of Malaysians celebrated the coming of the new year by either setting off or witnessing fireworks displays that decorated the night sky.
Oddly enough, a firework display became the excuse of a local man being in the same hotel room as a Thai masseuse when he was caught by officers from the religious department.
M’sian man caught in same hotel room as Thai masseuse, cited ‘exhaustion’
According to a report by The Star, the 60-year-old man found himself caught in an anti-vice operation carried out by the Melaka Religious Department between 12.30am and 4.30am.
State education, higher education and religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the man, who was married, was found being in the same hotel room with a 42-year-old Thai woman.
“The man, a local, admitted that he met up with the woman, who works as a masseuse at a massage centre in the city centre.
He claimed he had no choice but to stay with the Thai woman at the hotel because he was too tired to return home after watching the fireworks display in Bandar Hilir,” he told reporters.
The couple was among 13 individuals who were detained during the operation, where it involved a total of 42 enforcement officers who inspected 17 hotels around the city centre and Alor Gajah, based on public tip-offs and intelligence.
Rahmad added that a non-Muslim woman was also nabbed to act as a witness to the case.
All detainees are now being probed under Section 53 of the Syariah Offences Enactment (Melaka State) 1992 for the offence of cohabitation, where they face a fine of up to RM3,000, up to two years in jail, or both if convicted.
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