Kartika surrendered herself to the Pahang Islamic authority this morning. — Picture by Jack Ooi
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider
KUANTAN, April 2 — Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor has begun serving her punishment for drinking beer — three weeks’ community service at a children’s home here.
The teary-eyed mother of two said that she was strong enough to handle it, despite a preference for her original sentence of six strokes of the cane.
“I am ready to accept any punishment. I am strong,” Kartika told reporters at a mosque here, where she surrendered herself to the Pahang Islamic Affairs Department this morning.
But the 33-year-old said she was sad because she will miss her children.
“I have told my children that I have gone to work. My children can come and visit me,” said Kartika, who was dressed in a green baju kurung with red floral and grey tudung.
The part-time model was sentenced to six strokes of the rotan and fined RM5,000 for drinking beer at a hotel in Cherating on July 11, 2008.
However, the caning sentence that was delayed from last August was replaced two days ago by the Sultan of Pahang, who is also the head of Islam in the state.
The state ruler had instead ordered her to perform community service at a children’s home in Kuantan for three weeks.
The Pahang Islamic Religion and Malay Adat Resam Council had, on March 26, issued Kartika a letter stating that the Sultan had ordered her sentence to be replaced.
The letter directed her to serve at the Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children’s Home in Kuantan for three weeks starting from today.
Kartika said she respected the Sultan’s decision and would follow it.
She was later whisked away from the office in a white van and taken on a 20-minute journey outside the city centre, to the children’s home.
The white van drove directly into the compound and reporters were barred from passing the main entrance.
Security officers told reporters that outsiders were not allowed to enter the premises.
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