Muar man arrested for zina after out-of-wedlock relationship with neighbour led to birth of their 2-month-old child.
PETALING JAYA: Religious authorities in Johor have arrested a 24-year-old man after admitting to having sexual relations with his 22-year-old neighbour, which resulted in the birth of a child two months ago.
The arrest was carried out at 11.30am yesterday following a report lodged with the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ).
According to a report by the New Straits Times, JAINJ enforcement personnel initially arrived at the woman’s residence at about 10am, where they discovered a two-month-old infant.
Investigations revealed that the woman had ceased working after discovering her pregnancy.
She admitted to the relationship with the man, who resides in the same village, stating they had been acquainted for a long period.
JAINJ further stated that both individuals confessed to having sexual relations in a vehicle parked by the roadside last year.
Following the woman’s statement, JAINJ personnel proceeded to the man’s nearby residence to detain him.
The suspect, a part-time worker, was reportedly visibly shaken when approached by authorities.
After an initial period of silence, he eventually admitted to the act.
Although the man claimed to have repented and promised to marry the woman to take responsibility for the child, his intentions were met with scrutiny.
JAINJ reported that while the man had previously expressed a desire to marry before the child’s birth, he never followed through on this intention. When questioned repeatedly by enforcement personnel on whether he was truly prepared for marriage, he became evasive.
The department has since summoned the parents of both parties in an attempt to reach an amicable resolution, with officers urging the man to formalise the union as a demonstration of sincere repentance.
