JOHOR Islamic religious enforcement officers detained a teenage girl and a man during an inspection at a hotel in Mersing after the pair were suspected of khalwat (close proximity) and found to be in possession of recordings believed to contain indecent content.
In a statement, the Johor Islamic Religious Department said the operation was carried out between 10pm and 3am, involving checks at several hotels and homestays across the district.
“At about 2.30am, enforcement officers knocked on the door of a hotel room, which was opened by a man. Further inspection found that a teenage girl was also inside the room, and no other individuals were present,” the statement said.
“Initial investigations found that the pair are not husband and wife. The man, in his early 20s, works part-time, while the woman is in her teens and not employed. Both reside in Mersing,” it added.
According to JAINJ, officers conducting a search inside the room discovered a mobile phone positioned facing the bed, believed to have been used to record indecent acts.
“Further checks found several old recordings involving the couple, believed to have been made at the same hotel on different dates,” the department said.
“Investigations also revealed that the pair have known each other for a long time since their school days and admitted to frequently meeting privately at hotels,” it added.
JAINJ said both individuals were detained to assist investigations under Section 27 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Johor) 1997, as well as Section 23 of the same enactment.
“The parents of the pair were called to the JAINJ office for the bail process before the case is referred to the Syariah Court for further action,” the statement said. - February 6, 2026
