> ‘You can’t cane convicts,’ Malaysian court tells spank-happy judge

A Malaysian court has slapped down a judge who sparked controversy when he wanted to personally cane a convicted robber.

Sessions Court Judge Zainal Abidin Kamarudin last month ordered that a 20-year-old man be whipped with a rattan cane 10 times – and insisted that he wanted to carry out the sentence himself in court on July 15.

Muhammad Syafiq Abdul Wahab had pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery after he was arrested for brandishing a knife while stealing a mobile phone from a student.

Media reports at the time quoted Zainal as saying that the defendant’s parents should watch the punishment, so the man should ‘feel some pain as you have caused pain to the victim.’

After lawyers criticized the judge, Malaysia’s chief judge said officials would review the decision.

The High Court decided on Monday that the judge should not cane offenders himself, said the defense lawyer, Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahamud. It also ruled that Muhammad Syafiq should serve 200 hours of community service instead of being caned.

Flogging is a common penalty in Malaysia for various crimes, ranging from rape to bribery. It is generally carried out by specially trained officials at prisons.