JANTHO

Two people were caned in Aceh province on Friday after being caught having an extramarital kiss.

Hundreds of people gathered to watch as Anis Saputra, 24, and Kiki Hanafilia, 17, received eight lashes each at a mosque in the city of Jantho, southeast of the provincial capital Banda Aceh.

“Both were married to other people. The people caught them kissing each other in Aceh Besar district’s forest in October. They had yet to have sexual intercourse when they were caught,” prosecutor Deby Rinaldi said.

“Anis’ wife, who is seven months pregnant, was away at the time. The woman, Kiki, has been married for two years,” he said.

Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra, is one of several areas in Indonesia where Islamic sharia laws have been adopted.

In October, two women were caned in Aceh for selling food during the fasting hours of Ramadan.