Khalwat charge may be withdrawn

GEORGE TOWN: The Indonesian Christian woman who was convicted in a khalwat (close-proximity) case three years ago may have the charge against her withdrawn.
Wan Faridulhadi Mohd Yusoff, the lawyer of the woman who only wanted to be known as Halimah (pix), said he will file a representation to the syariah chief prosecutor as soon as possible to have the charge against his client withdrawn.
"We want to prove she is not a Muslim and cannot be tried in a syariah court, " he said.
Wan Faridulhadi was speaking to reporters after a Syariah Court of Appeal panel affirmed a previous panel's decision on June 5 in calling for a retrial in Halimah's case.
Wan Faridulhadi added that they will let the lower syariah court fix a date for the retrial.
Halimah , a worker at a traditional medical treatment centre, was convicted of committing khalwat at a reflexology centre in Jalan Seang Teik at 11.40am on Dec 8, 2011.
She had pleaded guilty to the charge at the Penang syariah court on May 15, 2012 after a confusion over the meaning of the offence.
She was unrepresented at that time.