Actress, singer held for 'khalwat'

Actress, singer held for 'khalwat'

MALAYSIA: Two Malaysian celebrities have been arrested by religious authorities for the Islamic offense of khalwat, which forbids men and women who are not married to each other from being in close proximity, reports said on Monday.

Actress Aida Rahim and singer Joe Radzwill were detained on early Sunday at a condominium in a suburb outside Kuala Lumpur following a tip-off, the New Straits Times said.

They were expected to be charged under Islamic Sharia laws and face up to two years' jail or a 3,000 ringgit (US$789) fine if found guilty, the daily said.

The actress, in her mid-40s, has a daughter while the singer, in his 30s, is married with three children.

Some 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million population are Muslims, who are subject to Sharia laws in civil matters such as marriage and divorce. -- AFP