Johor religious police catch unmarried couple for cohabiting, say they 'didn't do anything' as they were fasting

A couple in Johor was arrested for alleged "khalwat", or close proximity, after they were found together in a room on Feb. 23.

According to Harian Metro, the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) said that they allegedly denied any wrongdoing as they were "fasting".

The pair was caught red-handed at a shophouse in the town of Skudai at around 11am.

Man was wearing women's clothing

JAINJ enforcement officers, acting on a tip-off, had raided a rented room at the shophouse and knocked on several doors for a few minutes.

A man clad in women's sleepwear later opened the door to one of the bedrooms.

Officers initially thought that he was a woman, but later realised he was a man based on his voice, hair and name.

The room was also dark despite it being daytime, reported Harian Metro.

Officers then turned on the light to find a woman standing behind the door, also dressed in sleepwear.

When asked why the man was wearing women's clothing, he said he had "merely borrowed" the woman's clothes as they were "more comfortable".

Claimed they did not do anything as they were fasting

The man and the woman, both in their 20s and working in the district, later admitted that they were not married.

However, they reportedly said that they were "not doing anything" as they were "fasting".

Officers later found numerous men's and women's clothes mixed together in the wardrobe, leading to the couple's confession that they had been living together for over a month.

The pair was subsequently arrested and detained.

Top photos via Canva