Indonesia’s laws on decency, when applied with bylaws from some of the country’s more conservative regions, allow for raids on hotels or other accommodations to discourage unwed couples from engaging in marital affairs, despite such raids being a violation of one’s right to privacy.
These “morality raids”, as they are often called, often net normal citizens who stay at cheap hotels or boarding houses (kost) instead of high profile individuals at more upscale accommodations. But, somewhat ironically, one such raid in a hotel in Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra, netted a judge from a religious court.
The police’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) detained 49-year-old ED, who was confirmed to be the chief judge at Padang Panjang religious court, while she was staying at the hotel on Sunday with her alleged lover.
“She (ED) was staying at the hotel with a man who is not her rightful husband,” said Padang Panjang Satpol PP Chief Syafnir, as quoted by Detik today.
ED initially told the officers that she and the man in the room were a married couple, but failed to produce a marriage certificate upon request. ED reportedly threatened the officers by showing her judge’s ID card as she and the man were taken away for questioning.
It’s not yet clear what charges ED could face for her alleged adultery. The Supreme Court in Jakarta has ordered the Padang Religious High Court to investigate into the case.
