BANDA ACEH: An Indonesian policeman was publicly caned for gambling, officials said yesterday, the first police officer in the Muslim province of Aceh to receive the punishment.
A 500-strong crowd watched as Irwanuddin, who goes by one name, received six strokes on a stage outside a mosque in the town of Sabang, which lies on a small island, officials said.
A court in Aceh, the only Indonesian province to enforce Shariah law, found him guilty of taking bets for a lucky numbers game.
Two civilians were also found guilty but they fled and were not caned alongside the policeman.
Irwanuddin was originally due to be caned last week, but a group of officers intervened and took him away before the punishment could be carried out. The incident provoked a public outcry which forced police to hand over the convicted officer. AFP
