Wan Han and Zhang Na pleaded guilty to "disordered behavior in public places". The video of their performance offended Muslims and provoked a temporary ban on visits to the place of worship. The public prosecutor had requested an appropriate sentence, which served as a lesson to them and others.
Kota Kinabalu (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A fine of 25 Malaysian ringgits (5.37 euros): This is the penalty imposed on the two Chinese tourists who recently caused scandal for a provocative dance at the Kota Kinabalu mosque (Sabah - photo 1). If they had not paid the fine, they faced seven days in prison.
The day after their exhibition, June 23rd, the president of the mosque Jamal Sakaran had censured "the unacceptable behavior of foreign tourists". To "preserve the sanctity of Islam", the religious also ordered a temporary ban on visits to the mosque.
The public prosecutor Albert Basiri had asked for an appropriate sentence to serve as a lesson for them and others. Wan Han, 37, and Zhang Na, 25 (photo 2), yesterday pleaded guilty to "disordered behavior in public places". During the trial in court, the defendants solicited a mild sentence: they did not know that their actions were wrong.
The assistant chief commissioner of the local police, M Chandra, said that "both women intended to make fun of a place of worship". They had performed only "for entertainment reasons". Immediately after the payment of the fine, the women were escorted to the international airport of Kota Kinabalu, from where they left to return to China.